BEHAVIORAL-RESPONSES TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PREDATORS BY SAND GOBY POMATOSCHISTUS-MINUTUS - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY

Predation risk influenced the behaviour of Pomatoschistus minutus (Pisces) during both reproductive and non-reproductive seasons in aquarium experiments. Reproductive rate was the same with and without predators, but different types of anti-predator behaviour were seen in different treatments. When 'attacked' by a tern model, the fish burrowed in the sediment surface, forming groups. P. minutus did not discriminate between hungry and satiated cod, even though hungry cod ate more gobies. Individual P. minutus were often found close to the cod, irrespective of its hunger state, seemingly inspecting the predator.