The “life-dinner principle” posits that there is greater selection pressure on the species that have more to lose in an interaction. Thus, based on the asymmetry within predator-prey interactions, there is an advantage for prey to learn quickly, especially in response to novel, introduced predators. Here, we test the “learned recognition” hypothesis that posits that naïve prey species’ ability to recognise and respond to introduced predators can be induced through experience. We quantified the behavioural response of initially predator-naïve burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) that had been living in the presence (for 8–15 months) and absence of an introduced predator (feral cats—Felis catus) to models of cats, a herbivore (rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)), novel object (plastic bucket) and no object (control). We expected that if bettongs recognised cats as a threat, they would be more wary in the presence of cat models than either rabbit models, buckets or the control. Bettongs living without predators did not modify their behaviour in response to the cat model, but spent more time cautiously approaching the rabbit model compared with the control. However, bettongs living with cats spent more time cautiously approaching the cat model compared with the rabbit, bucket and control. Our results are consistent with the learned recognition hypothesis which suggests that a predator-naïve prey species ability to recognise novel predators is inducible through experience. Our finding suggests that antipredator responses of reintroduced species could be improved prior to release by exposing them to predators under carefully controlled conditions. Predator-prey interactions have played a strong selective factor in the evolution of predator avoidance behaviour by prey. In order for prey to appropriately and successfully respond and avoid predation, it is essential that prey species recognise a predatory threat in the first place. The isolation of prey species on predator free islands, geographically isolated continents (such as Australia) and predator-free fenced reserves, means that prey are increasingly isolated from predator-driven natural selection processes. We studied the behavioural response of a population of initially predator-naïve burrowing bettongs that had been living in the presence (for 8–15 months) and absence of feral cats, (an introduced predator). Our results show that predator-naïve prey species’ ability to recognise novel predators is inducible through experience.

中文翻译：

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暴露于新的捕食者会诱导幼稚的猎物对视觉捕食者的识别

“生命晚餐原则”认为，在相互作用中失去更多的物种面临更大的选择压力。因此，基于捕食者-猎物相互作用中的不对称性，猎物具有快速学习的优势，尤其是在应对新引入的捕食者时。在这里，我们测试了“习得性识别”假设，该假设假设幼稚的猎物能够通过经验诱导识别和应对引入的捕食者的能力。我们量化了最初捕食者幼稚的穴居动物 (Bettongia lesueur) 的行为反应，它们生活在存在（8-15 个月）和没有引入的捕食者（野猫 - Felis catus）的情况下，对猫模型，一种食草动物（兔子（Oryctolagus cuniculus））、新物体（塑料桶）和无物体（对照）。我们预计，如果 bettongs 认为猫是一种威胁，那么他们在猫模型的存在下会比兔子模型、水桶或对照更加谨慎。在没有捕食者的情况下生活的 Betongs 并没有改变他们的行为来响应猫模型，但与对照组相比，它们花更多的时间谨慎地接近兔子模型。然而，与兔子、水桶和对照相比，与猫一起生活的宠物花更多的时间谨慎地接近猫模型。我们的结果与学习识别假说一致，该假说表明天真捕食者识别新捕食者的能力是通过经验诱导的。我们的发现表明，通过在仔细控制的条件下将它们暴露于捕食者，可以在释放之前改善重新引入物种的抗捕食者反应。捕食者-猎物的相互作用在猎物回避捕食者行为的演变过程中起到了很强的选择作用。为了使猎物能够适当并成功地做出反应并避免捕食，猎物物种首先必须认识到捕食威胁。在没有捕食者的岛屿、地理上孤立的大陆（如澳大利亚）和没有捕食者的围栏保护区上，猎物物种的隔离意味着猎物越来越远离捕食者驱动的自然选择过程。我们研究了一群在野猫存在（8-15 个月）和没有野猫（引入的捕食者）的情况下生活的最初捕食者幼稚的穴居动物的行为反应。我们的研究结果表明，天真的捕食者物种识别新捕食者的能力是通过经验诱导的。