Predator foraging success and habitat complexity: quantitative test of the threshold hypothesis

Gotceitas, Vytenis; Colgan, Patrick W.

doi:10.1007/bf00380145

Cited by 247 publications

(212 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Como os riachos possuem uma produtividade primária relativamente baixa e os processos são predominantemente heterotróficos e de carreamento, a ictiofauna destes ambientes depende da importação da matéria alóctone para a sua subsistência (CASTRO 1999). Assim, nesses sistemas, as matas ciliares exercem grande importância no que se refere à fonte de alimentos, composição de hábitats e refúgios, que são fatores importantes para manutenção da diversidade da fauna aquáti-ca (CROWDER & COOPER 1982, GILINSKY 1984, GOTCEITAS & COLGAN 1989, VONO & BARBOSA 2001.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Aspectos da história natural de Astyanax scabripinnis Jenyns (Teleostei, Characidae) em um riacho de floresta com araucária no sul do Brasil

Abilhôa

2007

Rev. Bras. Zool.

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Neste trabalho é descrita a estrutura populacional, os hábitos alimentares e a reprodução de Astyanax scabripinnis Jenyns, 1842, baseado em coletas realizadas mensalmente entre outubro de 1998 e setembro de 1999, em um riacho das cabeceiras do rio Iguaçu. A distribuição de freqüência por classe de comprimento revelou valores diferentes entre machos (5,4-6,7 cm) e fêmeas (6,1-8,1 cm). Foram encontradas diferenças significativas para os valores do fator de condição entre os sexos, o que pode implicar em diferentes taxas de crescimento. O período reprodutivo ocorreu entre outubro e março, como já descrito para outros caracídeos da mesma região. Fragmentos de insetos terrestres, restos de vegetais superiores e larvas de insetos aquáticos foram os principais itens consumidos, indicando uma pronunciada dependência da alimentação com os itens alóctones importados da vegetação ripária. Possíveis implicações das variações sazonais dos parâmetros físicos, químicos e hidrológicos sobre a história natural de A. scabripinnis são discutidas.

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Section: Discussionunclassified

Aspectos da história natural de Astyanax scabripinnis Jenyns (Teleostei, Characidae) em um riacho de floresta com araucária no sul do Brasil

Abilhôa

2007

Rev. Bras. Zool.

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“…The underlying mechanisms of the reduction in predator foraging success included a limitation of manoeuvrability of predators, a reduction in visual contacts, and an increase in evasive abilities of prey (HELFMAN, 1981). Empirical data either suggested that a threshold level of cover density is necessary to reduce predator foraging success (SAVINO and STEIN, 1982;GOTCEITAS and COLGAN, 1989) or that predation rates are a linear decreasing function of cover complexity (CROWDER and COOPER, 1978;NELSON and BONSDORFF, 1990). Furthermore, empirical and theoretical studies have long suggested that intermediate structural complexity of cover maximizes predator feeding rates and in the long-term may stabilize predator-prey interactions by preventing prey extinction (CROWDER and COOPER, 1982;SAVINO and STEIN, 1982;but see MCNAIR, 1986).…”

Section: Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nature and Functions of Cover for Riverine Fish.

Allouche¹

2002

Bull. Fr. Pêche Piscic.

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This review attempts to assess the nature and the role of cover for riverine fish assemblages. Although early identified as a key factor for fish distribution, especially for salmonids, cover (i.e. woody debris, undercut banks, boulders, turbidity...) still remains the variable least considered in the studies of fish habitat relationships. This is mainly due to the diversity of ecological functions of cover structures in fish assemblages. Cover structures are structuring components of fish habitat and contribute to the biological productivity of streams. But, at the individual scale, cover fulfils three main functions: protection against predators, visual isolation reducing competition, and hydraulic shelter. In fact, the use of cover by fish results from a trade-off between the costs and the benefits associated with its use. Although the relationships between fish and cover appear extremely complex and context-specific, a growing body of evidence highlights the potential role of cover for management purposes.Key-words : cover, shelter, riverine fish, fish habitat. NATURE ET FONCTIONS DU COUVERT POUR LES POISSONS LOTIQUES. RÉSUMÉCet article décrit la typologie ainsi que les fonctions du couvert pour les poissons lotiques. Identifié très tôt comme un facteur explicatif de la distribution des poissons, principalement chez les salmonidés, le couvert (i.e. débris ligneux, sous-berges, blocs, turbidité...) demeure néanmoins la variable la moins considérée dans l'étude des relations habitat-poissons. Ceci s'explique notamment par les fonctions écologiques très diverses que le couvert remplit vis-à-vis des assemblages piscicoles. Les structures pourvoyeuses de couvert sont des agents structurants de l'habitat piscicole et contribuent à la productivité biologique des cours d'eau. Au niveau du microhabitat du poisson, le couvert remplit trois fonctions majeures : anti-prédation, isolation visuelle limitant la compétition, et abri hydraulique. En fait, l'utilisation du couvert par les poissons résulte d'un compromis entre les coûts et les bénéfices associés d'où l'extrême complexité de cette relation qui semble plutôt spécifique à un contexte donné. Malgré les difficultés d'extrapolation, de nombreux travaux mettent en évidence la signification écologique ainsi que l'utilisation potentielle du couvert pour une gestion optimale des ressources piscicoles.Mots-clés : couvert, abri, poissons lotiques, habitat piscicole.

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“…Some studies have concentrated on behavior of predators in different plant densities in the laboratory (largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides : Glass 1971;Savino and Stein 1982;Anderson 1984;Gotceitas and Colgan 1989); others have quantified diet choice (bluegills: Crowder and Cooper 1982;Werner et al 1983a;Gilinsky 1984;Schramm and Jirka 1989) or growth (bluegills: Crowder and Cooper 1982) of predators in vegetation in the field. However, a comprehensive study evaluating the importance of each factor on the growth of predators, such as bluegills, is lacking.…”

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Bluegill growth as modified by plant density: an exploration of underlying mechanisms

1992

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Summary.Bluegill (Lepomis macrochira) growth varies inconsistently with plant density. In laboratory and field experiments, we explored mechanisms underlying bluegill growth as a function of plant and invertebrate density. In the laboratory, bluegills captured more chironomids (Chironomus riparius) than damselflies (Enallagma spp. and Ischnura spp.), but energy intake per time spent searching did not differ between damselfly and chironomid treatments. From laboratory data, we described prey encounter rates as functions of plant and invertebrate density. In Clark Lake, Ohio, we created 0.05-ha mesocosms of inshore vegetation to generate macrophyte densities of 125, 270, and 385 stems/m 2 of Potamogeton and Ceratophyllum and added 46-mm bluegill (1/m 2 ). In these mesocosms, invertebrate density increased as a function of macrophyte density. Combining this function with encounter rate functions derived from laboratory data, we predicted that bluegill growth should peak at a high macrophyte density, greater than 1000 stems/m 2 , even though growth should change only slightly beyond 100 stems/m 2 . Consistent with our predictions, bluegills did not grow differentially, nor did their use of different prey taxa differ, across macrophyte densities in the field. Bluegills preferred chironomid pupae, which were relatively few in numbers but vulnerable to predation, whereas more cryptic, chironomid larvae, which were associated with vegetation but were relatively abundant, were eaten as encountered. Bluegills avoided physid snails, which were abundant. Contrary to previous work, vegetation did not influence growth or diet of bluegill beyond relatively low densities owing to the interaction between capture probabilities and macroinvertebrate densities.

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Predator foraging success and habitat complexity: quantitative test of the threshold hypothesis

Cited by 247 publications

References 42 publications

Aspectos da história natural de Astyanax scabripinnis Jenyns (Teleostei, Characidae) em um riacho de floresta com araucária no sul do Brasil

Aspectos da história natural de Astyanax scabripinnis Jenyns (Teleostei, Characidae) em um riacho de floresta com araucária no sul do Brasil

Nature and Functions of Cover for Riverine Fish.

Bluegill growth as modified by plant density: an exploration of underlying mechanisms

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