10.5061/DRYAD.475BV7S
Svanback, Richard
Uppsala University
Johansson, Frank
Uppsala University
Data from: Predation selects for smaller eye size in a vertebrate: effects
of environmental conditions and sex
Dryad
dataset
2019
Perca fluviatilis
selection gradients
eye size
2019-02-06T20:38:16Z
2019-02-06T20:38:16Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.2625
93161 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Increased eye size in animals results in a larger retinal image and thus
improves visual acuity. Thus, larger eyes should aid both in finding food
as well as detecting predators. On the other hand, eyes are usually very
conspicuous and several studies have suggested that eye size is associated
with predation risk. However, experimental evidence is scanty. In this
study, we address how predation affects variation in eye size by
performing two experiments using Eurasian perch juveniles as prey and
either larger individuals or pike as predators. First, we used large
outdoor tanks to compare selection due to predators on relative eye size
in open and artificial vegetated habitats. Second, we studied the effects
of both predation risk and resource levels on phenotypic plasticity in
relative eye size in indoor aquaria experiments. In the first experiment,
we found that habitat altered selection due to predators, since predators
selected for smaller eye size in a non-vegetated habitat, but not in
vegetated habitat. In the plasticity experiment, we found that fish
predators induced smaller eye size in males, but not in females, while
resource levels had no effect on eye size plasticity. Our experiments
provide evidence that predation risk could be one of the driving factors
behind variation in eye size within species.
Plasticity_experimentPlasticity_experiment_analyzing
scriptPredator_Selection_experimentPredator_Selection_experiment_Analyzing_script