The intensity of mate competition is often influenced by predation pressure. The threat-sensitive predator avoidance hypothesis predicts that prey should precisely adjust their fitness-related activities to the level of perceived acute predation risk and this effect should be stronger under high background risk. Individuals should compensate during periods of moderate risk for lost opportunities during high risk. Our study examined the interaction between acute and background predation risk on mate competition. Under laboratory conditions, we explored the effects of acute risk (low vs. high) using chemical alarm cue (AC; control (results presented in Chuard et al. (2016)) The effects of adult sex ratio on mating competition in male and female guppies (Poecilia reticulata) in two wild populations. Behav Process 129:1-10), 25% concentration, and 100% concentration), and population of origin (low vs. high background risk) on mate competition in guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Surprisingly, males favored courtship over forced mating under acute predation risk irrespective of background risk, potentially benefiting from a female preference for bold males. We discuss our results in the context of chemical threat-sensitivity and resource differences in defendability (e.g. mates vs. food).

中文翻译：

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探索特立尼达孔雀鱼两个野生种群中配偶竞争的威胁敏感捕食者回避假说

配偶竞争的强度往往受到捕食压力的影响。威胁敏感的捕食者回避假说预测，猎物应该将其与健康相关的活动精确地调整到感知的急性捕食风险水平，并且这种影响在高背景风险下应该更强。个人应在中等风险期间补偿高风险期间失去的机会。我们的研究检查了配偶竞争中急性和背景捕食风险之间的相互作用。在实验室条件下，我们使用化学警报提示（AC；控制）探讨了急性风险（低与高）的影响（结果在 Chuard 等人（2016 年）中提出）成人性别比例对雄性和雌性交配竞争的影响两个野生种群中的孔雀鱼 (Poecilia reticulata)。行为过程 129:1-10)，25% 浓度，和 100% 浓度），以及孔雀鱼（Poecilia reticulata）配偶竞争的起源种群（低与高背景风险）。令人惊讶的是，在急性捕食风险下，雄性更喜欢求爱而不是强迫交配，而不管背景风险如何，这可能得益于雌性对大胆雄性的偏好。我们在化学威胁敏感性和防御性资源差异（例如配偶与食物）的背景下讨论我们的结果。