Predator specific responses and emergent multi-predator effects on oviposition site choice in gray treefrogs, Hyla chrysoscelis

Predators affect prey through both consumptive and non-consumptive effects, and prey typically face threats from multiple simultaneous predators. While different predators have a variety of non-consumptive effects on prey, little is known regarding effects of simultaneous multiple predators on demographic habitat selection. Demographic habitat selection is unique among non-consumptive effects, especially in discrete habitat patches; decisions directly affect both distribution and abundance of species across habitat patches, rather than simply abundance and performance within patches. Our goal was to determine strength of avoidance responses to multiple species/species combinations of predatory fish, and responses to predator richness. We assessed responses of ovipositing gray treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis) to three predatory fish species and substitutive combination of species. In single-species treatments, treefrogs avoided only one species, Notemigonus crysoleucas. All two-species comb...