Journal Article

Biomechanics of predator–prey arms race in lion, zebra, cheetah and impala

Bennitt, Emily, Golabek, Krystyna A., Lorenc, Maja, Woledge, Roger C., Hubel, Tatjana Y., Bartlam-Brooks, Hattie L. A., Wilshin, Simon D., Curtin, Nancy A., West, Timothy G., Wilson, Alan M., Lowe, John C., Dewhirst, Oliver P., Diack, Rebecca, McNutt, J. Weldon

2018

Overview

The fastest and most manoeuvrable terrestrial animals are found in savannah habitats, where predators chase and capture running prey. Hunt outcome and success rate are critical to survival, so both predator and prey should evolve to be faster and/or more manoeuvrable. Here we compare locomotor characteristics in two pursuit predator–prey pairs, lion–zebra and cheetah–impala, in their natural savannah habitat in Botswana. We show that although cheetahs and impalas were universally more athletic than lions and zebras in terms of speed, acceleration and turning, within each predator–prey pair, the predators had 20% higher muscle fibre power than prey, 37% greater acceleration and 72% greater deceleration capacity than their prey. We simulated hunt dynamics with these data and showed that hunts at lower speeds enable prey to use their maximum manoeuvring capacity and favour prey survival, and that the predator needs to be more athletic than its prey to sustain a viable success rate. Analysis and modelling of locomotor characteristics of two pursuit predator–prey pairs show that hunts at lower speeds enable prey to use their maximum manoeuvring capacity and favour prey survival. Strength versus agility in the animal arms race Nature might be red in tooth and claw, but the race is not always won by the strong. A detailed study of how lions chase down zebras and cheetahs pursue impalas shows that, although the predators in each pair had substantially more muscle power than their prey, as well as much greater capacity to accelerate and decelerate, the prey species could slip away at lower speeds, at which they are more manoeuvrable. Nevertheless, predators need to be more athletic than their prey to sustain a viable kill rate.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 631/158/2455 / 631/158/857 / 631/181/2481 / 631/601/1332 / 631/601/1737 / 9/10 / Acceleration / Acinonyx - psychology / Acinonyx jubatus / Aepyceros melampus / Animals / Biomechanics / Botswana / Deceleration / Equidae - physiology / Equus quagga / Female / Humanities and Social Sciences / Impalas / Lions - physiology / Male / Maneuvers / multidisciplinary / Muscle, Skeletal - physiology / Muscles / Panthera leo / Predation / Predator-prey interactions / Predators / Predatory Behavior - physiology / Prey / Ruminants - physiology / Running - physiology / Savannahs / Science / Survival / Velocity