No evidence of nonlinear effects of predator density, refuge availability, or body size of prey on prey mortality rates

Simkins, Richard M.; Belk, Mark C.

doi:10.1002/ece3.3183

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 53 publications

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“…A final consideration of overwhelming importance in Evolutionary Biology is regarding the potential benefit for the predators in subsequent encounters. Whether this detrimental effect on the antipredatory capabilities of metamorphs enhances the forthcoming hunting success of the same or another different individual predator will depend on the density of predators in that population, and may hence connect with predator fitness through individual or even group selection (Pruitt et al, ; Simkins & Belk, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Failed predator attacks have detrimental effects on antipredatory capabilities through developmental plasticity in Pelobates cultripes toads

Zamora‐Camacho

Aragón

2019

Functional Ecology

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How predation events experienced by preys can shape phenotypic traits through the ontogenetic development of the interacting species should be a key issue in Evolutionary and Conservation Biology. Locomotor performance plays a fundamental role on the fitness of many animals, mainly because it enhances ability to fleeing from predators. Predators represent indeed a capital selective force on prey, mainly because they end prey life. However, predators may also damage prey by other means, such as injuries caused by failed attacks. This damage can severely affect locomotion, among several other aspects of prey fitness. In the case of anuran tadpoles, failed predator attacks often result in injured tails, which reduces swimming performance. However, little is known about lasting effects of those failed attacks on fleeing capabilities after metamorphosis. In this work, we clipped 55% tail length of pre‐tail‐resorption stage anaesthetized larval Pelobates cultripes toads, and compared metamorph hindlimb length and jump distance with metamorphs resulting from anaesthetized and non‐anaesthetized non‐clipped controls. Previous findings showed that this treatment produced metamorphs with reduced body condition. Results herein suggest that partial tail loss in tadpoles diminishes jumping performance of resultant metamorphs. This effect is likely a consequence of tail‐clipped tadpoles developing shorter hindlimbs as metamorphs, which is parallel to their reduced body condition. Therefore, predator attacks in the tail may be less potentially mortal than those in the head and body, but have costs in terms of an efficient antipredatory response that persist in post‐metamorphic stage. This effect might compromise metamorph ability to survive subsequent predator attacks.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Failed predator attacks have detrimental effects on antipredatory capabilities through developmental plasticity in Pelobates cultripes toads

Zamora‐Camacho

Aragón

2019

Functional Ecology

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Interactions Between Non‐Native Western Mosquitofish and Native Bluegill Sunfish: Mesocosm Experiments

Rettig,

Tristano,

Burger

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Aquatic ecosystems are often negatively affected by invasive species. However, biotic resistance by native species, either by competition or predation, can reduce the impacts of invasions by non‐native species. The Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) is one of the most impactful invasive species of freshwater fish and cause declines in native fish populations. Using two mesocosm experiments conducted in different years, we examined the ecological interactions between juveniles of the native fish, Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), and adults of the invasive fish, G. affinis. We found evidence for interactions between L. macrochirus and G. affinis. However, interactions did not appear symmetric, with L. macrochirus generally more affected by intraspecific interactions than interspecific interactions whereas G. affinis was more affected by interspecific interactions than intraspecific interactions. The presence of either species of fish led to a decrease in the number of large zooplankton and a tendency for a decrease in the total number of zooplankton. Based on these results, native L. macrochirus appear to be able to reduce the ability of non‐native G. affinis to establish or maintain populations through both competition and predation (i.e., acting as an intraguild predator). The consistency of our results across both experiments, with their different designs and their occurring in different years, gives weight to these conclusions. The reduction of or prevention of establishment of populations of invasive G. affinis would likely benefit the aquatic communities of ponds with fish, especially small‐bodied native fish.

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Ecological redundancy between coral reef sharks and predatory teleosts

Barley

Meeuwig

2019

Rev Fish Biol Fisheries

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No evidence of nonlinear effects of predator density, refuge availability, or body size of prey on prey mortality rates

Cited by 5 publications

References 53 publications

Failed predator attacks have detrimental effects on antipredatory capabilities through developmental plasticity in Pelobates cultripes toads

Failed predator attacks have detrimental effects on antipredatory capabilities through developmental plasticity in Pelobates cultripes toads

Interactions Between Non‐Native Western Mosquitofish and Native Bluegill Sunfish: Mesocosm Experiments

Ecological redundancy between coral reef sharks and predatory teleosts

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