Dynamic landscapes of fear and safety alter prey refuge use in freshwater habitats

The non-consumptive effects of predators on prey behavior have been studied in many different systems. However, predator-prey ecology has placed a bulk of emphasis on how fear alters prey behavior, and new studies have begun to shift focus to the importance that safety in the form of refuges has in structuring prey behavioral responses. This project focuses on changes in the safety landscape as well as changes in the fear landscape and how these changes impact crayfish behavior. Using an established bass-crayfish predator prey system, we altered shelter quality and location in relation to the presence of bass odor signals. We measured shelter use by the crayfish in response to this changing landscape.