Seen in part, feared in full: conditional visibility enhances eyespot defenses without experience-dependent decay

Predation is a significant ecological pressure that shapes species evolution and community dynamics. Eyespots, as common anti-predator signals, are widely observed in various animals, particularly among lepidopteran species. These markings function by either mimicking the eyes of natural predators or acting as conspicuous warning signals to deter potential threats. However, eyespot effectiveness depends on environmental context (e.g., microhabitat structure) and predator experience. Here, we examined how partial eyespot concealment and short-term predator experience influence early-stage predation behavior using artificial prey and domestic chicks. We used artificial prey and manipulated eyespot visibility across microhabitat conditions. Our results show that partially occluded eyespots consistently delayed predation, with chicks taking longer to approach and exhibiting prolonged hesitation compared to prey with fully visible or absent eyespots. Short-term experience did not alter ..., , # ”Seen in part, feared in full“: conditional visibility enhances eyespot defenses without experience-dependent decay

## Authors

Yuwen Cheng et al.

## Description

This dataset contains the raw behavioral data collected from controlled laboratory experiments testing antipredator responses of domestic chicks (*Gallus gallus domesticus*) to artificial prey bearing eyespot patterns. The experiments examined (1) how partial occlusion of eyespots influences predator behavior (Task 1), and (2) whether prior experience with different eyespot forms alters subsequent responses to a standardized eyespot prey (Task 2).

The data support the analyses presented in the associated manuscript and are intended to enable transparency, reuse, and reanalysis of behavioral responses to antipredator visual signals.

## Experimental Design and Methods (Summary)

Domestic chicks were used as a visually guided avian predator model. All individuals were naïve to eyespot stimuli prior to experimental exposure....,