Assessing multiple predator, diurnal and search area effects on predatory impacts by ephemeral wetland specialist copepods

Type Article
Date 2020-03
Language English
Author(s) Cuthbert Ross N.1, 2, 3, Dalu Tatenda4, 5, Wasserman Ryan J.5, 6, Monaco CristianORCID7, 8, Callaghan Amanda3, Weyl Olaf L. F.2, Dick Jaimie T. A.1
Affiliation(s) 1 : Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK
2 : DSI/NRF Research Chair in Inland Fisheries and Freshwater Ecology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Makhanda, 6140, South Africa
3 : Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Harborne Building, Reading, RG6 6AS, England, UK
4 : Ecology and Resource Management, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa
5 : South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Makhanda, 6140, South Africa
6 : Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Palapye, Botswana
7 : School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
8 : Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, 6140, South Africa
Source Aquatic Ecology (1386-2588) (Springer Science and Business Media LLC), 2020-03 , Vol. 54 , N. 1 , P. 181-191
DOI 10.1007/s10452-019-09735-y
WOS© Times Cited 6
Keyword(s) Paradiaptomus lamellatus, Lovenula raynerae, Calanoid copepod, Multiple predator effects, Functional response
Abstract

Predator–prey interaction strengths can be highly context-dependent. In particular, multiple predator effects (MPEs), variations in predator sex and physical habitat characteristics may affect prey consumption rates and thus the persistence of lower trophic groups. Ephemeral wetlands are transient ecosystems in which predatory copepods can be numerically dominant. We examine the interaction strengths of a specialist copepod Paradiaptomus lamellatus towards mosquito prey in the presence of conspecifics using a functional response approach. Further, we examine sex variability in predation rates of P. lamellatus under circadian and surface area variations. Then, we assess the influence of a co-occurring heterospecific predatory copepod, Lovenula raynerae, on total predation rates. We demonstrate MPEs on consumption, with antagonism between conspecific P. lamellatus predatory units evident, irrespective of prey density. Furthermore, we show differences between sexes in interaction strengths, with female P. lamellatus significantly more voracious than males, irrespective of time of day and experimental arena surface area. Predation rates by P. lamellatus were significantly lower than the heterospecific calanoid copepod L. raynerae, whilst heterospecific copepod groups exhibited the greatest predatory impact. Our results provide insights into the predation dynamics by specialist copepods, wherein species density, diversity and sex affect interaction strengths. In turn, this may influence population-level persistence of lower trophic groups under shifting copepod predator composition.

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Cuthbert Ross N., Dalu Tatenda, Wasserman Ryan J., Monaco Cristian, Callaghan Amanda, Weyl Olaf L. F., Dick Jaimie T. A. (2020). Assessing multiple predator, diurnal and search area effects on predatory impacts by ephemeral wetland specialist copepods. Aquatic Ecology, 54(1), 181-191. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-019-09735-y , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00605/71706/