Using behavioural and sensory ecology as an innovative approach to study the effects of environmental change on predator-prey interactions in aquatic ecosystems

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The majority of organisms on Earth live in environments that have been altered to some degree by human activities. The goal of my research program is to understand the way such alterations, both biotic (introduction of invasive species) and abiotic (turbidity, CO2, temperature) affect predator-prey interactions in aquatic ecosystems. I use an innovative approach, combining behavioural and sensory ecology, to investigate if and why it is that organisms are not responding properly to environmental cues in altered habitats, and how these organismal effects in turn affect ecosystem functions through alterations in food webs. By focusing our efforts on the organism's perception of environmental change, we can uncover potential mechanisms explaining the origin of maladaptive responses. This will help us build more accurate models of the effects of environmental/climate change on ecosystems, and find mitigations to specific problems. Here, I propose to look at (1) how aquatic prey integrate predation cues from different sensory inputs (visual and chemical) and how the removal of one of these inputs will affect the ability of prey to properly recognize predators. I will also compare the consequences of such sensory limitation on prey from species-rich (coral reefs) and species-poor (temperate watersheds) systems; (2) if and how the increased temperature relating to global warming will change the antipredator strategies used by prey, due to the increased foraging constraints imposed by these novel environmental conditions; and (3) if global warming will interact with ocean acidification to accentuate the impairment of fish antipredator behaviour in coral reefs. Predation is a fundamental process influencing behaviour, life history, distribution of prey, together with their populations and communities. Understanding how environmental change will impact this crucial regulatory process is of prime importance to predict the repercussions that environmental change will have on our biodiversity (increased conservation efforts) and economy (improved fisheries management to ensure sustainability).