Variation in foraging success among predators and its implications for population dynamics

Abstract

The effects of the expected predation rate on population dynamics have been studied intensively, but little is known about the effects of predation rate variability (i.e., predator individuals having variable foraging success) on population dynamics. In this study, variation in foraging success among predators was quantified by observing the predation of the wolf spider Pardosa pseudoannulata on the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus in the laboratory. A population model was then developed, and the effect of foraging variability on predator–prey dynamics was examined by incorporating levels of variation comparable to those quantified in the experiment. The variability in the foraging success among spiders was greater than would be expected by chance (i.e., the random allocation of prey to predators). The foraging variation was density‐dependent; it became higher as the predator density increased. A population model that incorporates foraging variation shows that the variation influences population dynamics by affecting the numerical response of predators. In particular, the variation induces negative density‐dependent effects among predators and stabilizes predator–prey dynamics.

On the innovation and evolution of predatory tactics

“…Predation is a key selection pressure driving community composition and ecosystem function [1, 2, 3]. Research has previously focussed on the responses of prey in predator-prey interactions [4, 5, 6]. However, there is burgeoning interest in how the behaviour of predators influences population dynamics [7, 8].…”

“…There is ample evidence that both within and between-individual variation in predator behaviour influences predator-prey dynamics (e.g. [9, 10, 5, 6]. Our understanding of the degree and forms of influence is still in its infancy despite long recognition of the importance of individual variation [11, 10, 7, 12].…”