Do prey recognise the varying risk of lion predation?

Predators can induce behavioural changes in prey that influence vigilance,
grouping patterns and space use, and these can ultimately affect prey
demography and trophic interactions. Consequently, prey must respond to
the risk of predation, but little is known about the features that drive
the spatial responses of prey species to predators. We tested whether prey
rely more heavily on olfaction or vision in determining their proximity to
lions reintroduced to Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa. We also
tested whether prey that are preferentially killed by lions show greater
responsiveness than those that are not, and whether prey respond to
predator behavioural states and hunger. Over 1588 observations of
potential prey locations in relation to lions under varying wind
directions, lion behaviours and hunger states throughout the day and
night, we found that vision is the primary determinant of risk avoidance
with no evidence of wind-driven odour responses affecting prey proximity.
Prey outside the preferred prey weight range of lions occurred closer to
lions than those species most at risk of lion predation. Prey were more
likely to be closer to covertly behaving lions and further from stationary
lions. Our evidence suggests prey responses to predators in intact,
multi-species assemblages are context dependent, but driven largely by
vision.