Variation in body size drives spatial and temporal variation in lobster–urchin interaction strength

DiFiore, Bartholomew P.; Stier, Adrian C.

doi:10.1111/1365-2656.13918

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 103 publications

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“…It is currently unclear whether or in what cases these cross-species patterns are likely to hold for the variation within species. Whereas some studies have found that predator functional response parameters such as the space clearance rate and handling time do change as expected from cross-species relationships with traits like body size within species (Schröder et al, 2016), others have found results that do not or only partially support expectations from cross-species relationships (DiFiore & Stier, 2023; Gallagher et al, 2016; Gibert et al, 2017). For example, whereas cross-species studies generally show an increase in space clearance rates with predator body size, within-species studies and those restricted to particular taxonomic groups often have found a hump-shaped relationship, suggesting that there can be an optimal predator-prey body size ratio that is generally not seen in large scale cross-species comparisons (Brose et al, 2008; Cuthbert et al, 2020; Vucic-Pestic et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Heritable intraspecific variation among prey in size and movement interact to shape predation risk and potential natural selection

Coblentz,

Yang,

Dalal

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Species' traits affect consumer-resource interactions with consequences for population dynamics, food webs, and energy flows through ecosystems. Yet, our expectations for how the strengths of consumer-resource interactions scale with species' traits largely come from interspecific comparisons. It remains unclear whether these interspecific associations hold for intraspecific trait variation among individuals that is subject to natural selection. Few studies have evaluated the heritability of prey traits related to predation risk and their potential genetic correlations to evaluate how selection might operate on intraspecific variation underlying predator-prey interactions. We used outcrossed and then clonally propagated lines of the ciliate Paramecium caudatum to examine variation in morphology and movement behavior, the extent to which this variation was heritable, and how intraspecific differences among lines altered Paramecium susceptibility to predation by the copepod Macrocyclops albidus. We found that the Paramecium lines exhibited heritable variation in body size and movement traits. In contrast to interspecific allometric relationships, body size and movement speed did not covary among clonal lines. The proportion of Paramecium consumed by copepods was positively associated with Paramecium body size and velocity as one might expect from interspecific relationships . However, we also found evidence of an interaction such that greater velocities led to greater predation risk for large body-sized paramecia but did not alter predation risk for smaller body-sized paramecia. The proportion of paramecia consumed was not related to copepod body size. These patterns of predation risk and heritable trait variation in paramecia suggest that copepod predation may act as a selective force that could operate independently on movement speed and body size with the strongest selection against large, high-velocity paramecia. Overall, our results indicate that conclusions drawn from relationships among species in traits and the strengths of consumer-resource interactions need not hold within species. Furthermore, patterns of genetic variation and covariation in traits coupled with their relationships to predation risk can lead to patterns of potential natural selection that would be hard to infer from interspecific patterns alone.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Heritable intraspecific variation among prey in size and movement interact to shape predation risk and potential natural selection

Coblentz,

Yang,

Dalal

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…The strength of antipredator behaviors can vary based on urchin species (Dunn et al, 2018; Vadas & Elner, 2003), predator identity (Byrnes et al, 2006; Hagen et al, 2002), density of conspecifics (Kintzing & Butler, 2014; Knight et al, 2022; Nishizaki & Ackerman, 2005), availability of shelter (Green, 2012), and urchin body size (Freeman, 2006; Nishizaki & Ackerman, 2005; Pessarrodona et al, 2019; Scheibling & Hamm, 1991). Urchin vulnerability to predation is strongly size‐specific, increasing dramatically with the ratio of predator to prey body size (DiFiore & Stier, 2023; Eisaguirre et al, 2020; Tegner & Levin, 1983). Predator avoidance behavior by smaller, more vulnerable urchins, in combination with heightened rates of successful predation, has been proposed as a driver of the size distribution of exposed urchins in areas with higher predator biomass (Shears & Babcock, 2002; Spyksma et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Size‐specific reduction in kelp consumption by New Zealand urchins exposed to chemical cues from the red rock lobster

Curtis,

Wing

2024

Ecosphere

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Sea urchins can strongly reduce their mobility, exposure to predation, and feeding rates upon detection of chemical cues produced by predators, driving behavioral effects on grazing activity that may contribute to macroalgal community dynamics. However, the extent of chemically induced antipredator behaviors in urchins can vary by predator–prey species pair and ecological context and is therefore important to characterize in novel settings. Additionally, the effect of predator and prey size on urchin reactions to predator cues has rarely been considered, with the few existing examples yielding mixed conclusions. Here, we used a replicated split‐plot experiment to measure the effects of red rock lobsters (Jasus edwardsii) on consumption of macroalgae by the New Zealand sea urchin (Evechinus chloroticus) across a range of predator and prey body sizes. Overall, per‐capita consumption rates of kelp by urchins declined by 30% in the presence of lobsters, though feeding activity varied widely among individuals. Based on mass‐specific measurements of feeding rates, responses to predator cues appeared similar across all urchin sizes but only yielded distinguishable differences in the amount of kelp consumed in trials with larger urchins due to their considerably higher feeding capacity. Conversely, consumption rates of kelp by urchins had no apparent relationship with lobster size, likely due to chemical cue saturation in our experimental setting or a risk gradient that was insufficient to elicit a graded behavioral response. Our findings provide new evidence for a nonconsumptive effect of lobsters on feeding rates of an important grazer that can potentially reinforce the ecological role of this key predator in New Zealand kelp beds.

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Spiny lobster predation of barrens‐forming sea urchins is not limited by body size, but may be overstated

Day,

Knott,

Swadling

et al. 2024

Ecosphere

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Worldwide, lobsters are considered key predators that control urchin populations. It has been widely reported that lobster size plays a significant role in the size of urchins they feed on, as does the size of the urchin. Generally, it is thought that small palinurid “spiny” lobsters measuring less than 120 mm carapace length (CL) are morphologically incapable of eating urchins, while large lobsters are voracious predators. Urchin size is expected to affect predation with larger urchins of greater than 90 mm test diameter (TD) presenting the most difficult prey. These generalities, however, have not been quantitatively tested for the eastern spiny lobster Sagmariasus verreauxi and recently the accepted size paradigm for lobsters eating urchins has come into question. The aim of this study was to assess whether lobster predation on urchins would differ with urchin size or species, or the size of lobster. Our results indicate that S. verreauxi does not fit the common lobster patterns regarding urchin predation. There were generally low rates of predation and a significant negative relationship between feeding and both lobster size and urchin size. We found that small lobsters were capable urchin predators with a higher likelihood of eating urchins than larger lobsters, which were more reluctant predators. While we did find the expected effect of smaller urchins being significantly more vulnerable prey, there was none of the expected size limitations for small lobsters eating large urchins and predation did not differ between urchin species, indicating that this was a general pattern. Overall, we observed low rates of predation, suggesting that either S. verreauxi may not be a key urchin predator like other lobster species elsewhere, or that small lobsters are underestimated as urchin predators in temperate marine ecosystems.

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Variation in body size drives spatial and temporal variation in lobster–urchin interaction strength

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.

Cited by 5 publications

References 103 publications

Heritable intraspecific variation among prey in size and movement interact to shape predation risk and potential natural selection

Heritable intraspecific variation among prey in size and movement interact to shape predation risk and potential natural selection

Size‐specific reduction in kelp consumption by New Zealand urchins exposed to chemical cues from the red rock lobster

Spiny lobster predation of barrens‐forming sea urchins is not limited by body size, but may be overstated

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