The allometry of vertebrate pursuit predation.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: The allometry of vertebrate pursuit predation.
Authors: Koopmans, Lars1 l.koopmans@uva.nl, de Roos, André M.1,2, Martin, Benjamin T.1
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 5/5/2026, Vol. 123 Issue 18, p1-8. 8p.
Subjects: Allometry, Reaction time, Predation, Animal locomotion, Biomechanics, Scaling laws (Statistical physics)
Abstract: Pursuit and evasion dynamics are a general phenomenon observed in predator-prey interactions across terrestrial, aquatic, and aerial domains. Differences in body mass and domain generate variation in biomechanical traits that shape these encounters, yet the consequences of such variation remain poorly understood. Here, we integrate allometric scaling relationships of vertebrate locomotion with turning gambit theory, a geometrical model of pursuit-evasion, to examine how body size and domain shape predator-prey encounter outcomes. We show that in its original form, the turning gambit predicts that prey should rarely be able to outmaneuver predators, particularly in aerial and aquatic systems, contradicting the low capture success observed in nature. This mismatch is resolved by recognizing that predators cannot respond instantaneously to prey maneuvers. Such sensory-motor delays, although brief, shift the advantage to prey across all domains. Finally, we show that these delays, together with domain-specific scaling of speed and maneuverability, generate distinct biomechanical regimes in which different traits govern pursuit-evasion outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America is the property of National Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 193687834
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The allometry of vertebrate pursuit predation.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Koopmans%2C+Lars%22">Koopmans, Lars</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> l.koopmans@uva.nl</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22de+Roos%2C+André+M%2E%22">de Roos, André M.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Martin%2C+Benjamin+T%2E%22">Martin, Benjamin T.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Proceedings+of+the+National+Academy+of+Sciences+of+the+United+States+of+America%22">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America</searchLink>. 5/5/2026, Vol. 123 Issue 18, p1-8. 8p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Allometry%22">Allometry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reaction+time%22">Reaction time</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predation%22">Predation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Animal+locomotion%22">Animal locomotion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biomechanics%22">Biomechanics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scaling+laws+%28Statistical+physics%29%22">Scaling laws (Statistical physics)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Pursuit and evasion dynamics are a general phenomenon observed in predator-prey interactions across terrestrial, aquatic, and aerial domains. Differences in body mass and domain generate variation in biomechanical traits that shape these encounters, yet the consequences of such variation remain poorly understood. Here, we integrate allometric scaling relationships of vertebrate locomotion with turning gambit theory, a geometrical model of pursuit-evasion, to examine how body size and domain shape predator-prey encounter outcomes. We show that in its original form, the turning gambit predicts that prey should rarely be able to outmaneuver predators, particularly in aerial and aquatic systems, contradicting the low capture success observed in nature. This mismatch is resolved by recognizing that predators cannot respond instantaneously to prey maneuvers. Such sensory-motor delays, although brief, shift the advantage to prey across all domains. Finally, we show that these delays, together with domain-specific scaling of speed and maneuverability, generate distinct biomechanical regimes in which different traits govern pursuit-evasion outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America is the property of National Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=193687834
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1073/pnas.2534397123
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 8
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Allometry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reaction time
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Predation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Animal locomotion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biomechanics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scaling laws (Statistical physics)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The allometry of vertebrate pursuit predation.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Koopmans, Lars
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: de Roos, André M.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Martin, Benjamin T.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 05
              M: 05
              Text: 5/5/2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 00278424
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 123
            – Type: issue
              Value: 18
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
              Type: main
ResultId 1