Enhanced conspicuousness of prey in warmer water mitigates the visual constraint of turbidity for predators

Changes in environmental conditions impact predator-prey interactions by altering behaviour through sensory and non-sensory pathways. Elevated water temperature and turbidity are known to alter activity levels and anti-predator responses in prey fish, and are increasing globally as a result of anthropogenic activities. Less is known about how temperature and turbidity impact predators’ ability to detect prey directly, or indirectly via changes to prey behaviour.

We quantified the detectability of Trinidadian guppies ( Poecilia reticulata ) free-swimming in a large arena from the perspective of a stationary visual predator (simulated as an underwater camera). We used a fully factorial experimental design testing the independent and combined effects of increased temperature and turbidity.

We found that both stressors had a strong influence on the appearance of prey (objectively quantified as the mean magnitude of the optical flow in the videos). As expected, turbidity reduced the frequency of detection between the guppies and the simulated predator, i.e. the magnitude of optical flow exceeded the threshold for a ‘detection event’ more often in clear water. Events were also shorter in duration in turbid water, reducing the time available for a predator to detect the prey. However, during an event, prey were more detectable in warmer water (i.e. the mean magnitude was greater).

Although we found no evidence of interactive effects of turbidity and temperature on the response variables, their cumulative main effects suggest an antagonistic effect on the overall rate of prey capture.