Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Evidence for the dilution effect in the selfish herd from fish predation on a marine insect

Abstract

It has been proposed that a major factor underlying the evolution of gregarious behaviour is a reduction in the risk of being attacked by predators1–3. One way in which individuals may gain protection from predators by joining a group is through a simple ‘dilution’ effect—for any one predator attack, the larger the group of prey animals, the smaller is the chance that any particular individual will be the victim. We present here field observations of predation on a marine insect, in which it is possible, for the first time, to quantify the magnitude of the dilution effect and distinguish it from other benefits of group living.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Williams, G. C. Adaptation and Natural Selection (Princeton University Press, 1966).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hamilton, W. D. J. theor. Biol. 31, 295–311 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Alexander, R. D. A. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 5, 325–383 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bertram, B. C. R. in Behavioural Ecology (eds Krebs, J. B. & Davies, N. B.) 64–96 (Blackwell, Oxford, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Major, P. F. Anim. Behav. 26, 760–777 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Calvert, W. H., Hedrick, L. E. & Brower, L. P. Science 204, 847–850 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Birch, M. C., Cheng, L. & Treherne, J. E. Proc. R. Soc. B206, 33–53 (1979).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Foster, W. A. & Treherne, J. E. Proc. R. Soc. B206, 33–52 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Treherne, J. E. & Foster, W. A. Anim. Behav. 28, 1119–1122 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Treherne, J. E. & Foster, W. A. Anim. Behav. 29 (in the press).

  11. Milinski, M. Z. Tierpsychol. 45, 373–388 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Foster, W., Treherne, J. Evidence for the dilution effect in the selfish herd from fish predation on a marine insect. Nature 293, 466–467 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/293466a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/293466a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing