Mysid predation on amphipods and Daphnia in a shallow coastal lake: prey selection and effects of macrophytes

2002 ◽  
Vol 59 (12) ◽  
pp. 1901-1907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank M Wilhelm ◽  
Juliane Hamann ◽  
Carolyn W Burns
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Elodea Canadensis ◽  
Aquatic Systems ◽  
Coastal Lake ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Size Preference ◽  
Paracalliope Fluviatilis

Interactions between mysids and invertebrates other than pelagic zooplankton have not been well studied. We tested the hypothesis that the mysid Tenagomysis chiltoni preys on the co-occurring amphipod Paracalliope fluviatilis in laboratory experiments. In prey size preference experiments with single prey species, male and female T. chiltoni consumed more small than large amphipods in the absence of the macrophyte Elodea canadensis, but were not selective when macrophytes were present. When offered small and large Daphnia, T. chiltoni males consumed more small than large Daphnia, whereas female T. chiltoni did not show any preference. When amphipods and Daphnia of similar size were presented together, male T. chiltoni strongly selected Daphnia in the presence and absence of E. canadensis, whereas female mysids did so only in the presence of macrophytes. The total number of prey consumed by each sex did not differ between macrophyte treatments. However, female T. chiltoni, which are larger than males, consumed more prey than males. These data suggest that mysids may be an important source of mortality to the amphipod P. fluviatilis. Mysids may also prey on amphipods in other aquatic systems where they co-occur.

Food Conditioning and Prey Selection by Young Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens)

1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 549-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward L. Mills ◽  
Daniel V. Widzowski ◽  
Suzanne R. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Daphnia Pulex ◽  
Perca Flavescens ◽  
Diet Breadth ◽  
Species Selection ◽  
Test Mixture ◽  
Food Conditioning

We tested how diet conditioning influences prey species selection by age-0 yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in laboratory experiments. We conditioned yellow perch to diets of different ratios of Daphnia pulex and Diaptomus sicilis and then offered them an experimental 1:1 test mixture of each prey. The influence of conditioning on prey selection was found not to be random, and prey were consumed neither in proportion to the 1:1 test mix nor to the ratio of prey in the conditioning diet. Young yellow perch switched to novel prey and did not specialize on the most frequently encountered prey in conditioning diets. However, when yellow perch were conditioned and tested on the 1:1 Diaptomus to Daphnia mix, these fish selected Diaptomus until they reached 35–40 mm total length when they switched to the larger bodied Daphnia. We hypothesize that young yellow perch may switch to novel prey because nutritional advantages associated with diet breadth may outweigh the advantage of feeding on familiar prey.

SELECTION OF SPIDER PREY BY TRYPOXYLON POLITUM (SAY) (HYMENOPTERA: SPHECIDAE)

1987 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.G. Rehnberg
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Developmental Stage ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Time Of Year ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractMore than 94% of all spiders captured by Trypoxylon politum (Say) were from three genera: Neoscona, Araneus, and Eustala. The contribution of these spider genera to provisions of T. politum in the eastern and southeastern United States was estimated as follows: Eustala, 17%; Araneus, 21%; and Neoscona, 59%. Provisions in early summer were dominated by Araneus marmoreus Clerck, Eustala sp., and Neoscona hentzii (Keyserling); in mid-summer by N. hentzii; and in late summer by A. marmoreus and Neoscona domiciliorum (Hentz). The proportions of juvenile, subadult, and adult spiders captured depended on the time of year and the developmental stage of the spider. Trypoxylon politum captured male and female subadults, and female adults, but took very few male adults. Trypoxylon politum was found to be stenophagous with respect to prey species and euryphagous with respect to prey size.

PATTERNS OF GASTROPOD MOLLUSK PREDATION ON BIVALVE MOLLUSKS ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS GULF COAST

2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Serena J. Randolph ◽  
Alan D. Maccarone
Keyword(s):  
Shell Thickness ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Drill Hole ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hole Diameter ◽  
Bivalve Mollusks ◽  
Collection Site ◽  
Drill Holes

Abstract Predation on bivalve mollusks by gastropod mollusks is common in coastal regions of the United States; however, few previous studies have examined whether drilling gastropods exhibit prey selection. In 2016, shells with small holes drilled by as many as two gastropod predators were collected at three sites separated by 30 km along the Texas Upper Gulf Coast on the Bolivar Peninsula (29° 40′N, 94° 90′W). The likeliest predators in these waters are the southern oyster drill (Stramonita haemastoma Linnaeus 1767) and the moon snail (Neverita duplicate Say 1822). Collected shells were identified to species and measurements were taken to examine statistical relationships between predators and prey species. These measurements included drill-hole diameter, shell thickness, drill-hole completeness, number of drill attempts, and collection site. Across the three locations, 17 different species of shells with drill holes were collected; of these, we focused on the ten most abundant species (n = 277 shells). The sample showed high variation in drill-hole diameter, shell thickness, and drill-hole completeness. Both the total number of holes and mean drill-hole diameter differed significantly among prey species (ANOVA, both P < 0.0001). In addition, drill-hole diameter correlated directly with prey shell thickness (P < 0.0001). Shells whose drill holes were complete were significantly thinner than shells with incomplete holes (P < 0.0001). Mean prey shell thickness, mean drill-hole diameter, and mean number of drill holes all differed significantly by collection site (all P < 0.0001). Ecological and morphological implications related to gastropod predation on mollusks are discussed.

As the prey thickens: rainbow trout select prey based upon width not length

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Michael J. Dodrill ◽  
Charles B. Yackulic ◽  
Theodore A. Kennedy ◽  
Michael D. Yard ◽  
Josh Korman
Keyword(s):  
Rainbow Trout ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Choice Model ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Invertebrate Drift ◽  
Fish Length ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽  
Selective Foraging ◽  
Length Width

Drift-feeding fish are typically considered size-selective predators. Yet, few studies have explicitly tested which aspect of prey “size” best explains size selection by drift-foraging fish. Here, we develop a Bayesian discrete choice model to evaluate how attributes of both prey and predator simultaneously influence size-selective foraging. We apply the model to a large dataset of paired invertebrate drift (n = 784) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) diets (n = 1028). We characterized prey “size” using six metrics (length, width, area, hemispherical area, volume, mass) and used pseudo-R2 to determine which metric best explained observed prey selection across seven taxa. We found that rainbow trout are positively size-selective, they are selecting prey based upon differences in prey width, and size-selectivity increases with fish length. Rainbow trout demonstrated strong selection for the adult and pupae stages of aquatic insects relative to their larval stages. Our study provides strong empirical evidence for size-selective foraging in rainbow trout and demonstrates prey selection is based primarily upon width, not length or area as has been widely reported.

scholarly journals Prey species and prey selection of dholes at three different sites in Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
KHWANRUTAI CHARASPET ◽  
Ronglarp - Sukmasuang ◽  
NORASET KHOEWSREE ◽  
MANANYA PLA-ARD ◽  
YUWALUK CHANACHAI
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Wildlife Sanctuary ◽  
Khao Yai National Park ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract. Charaspet K, Sukmasuang R, Khoewsree N, Pla-ard M, Chanachai Y. 2020. Prey species and prey selection of dholes at three different sites in Thailand. Biodiversitas 21: 5248-5262. The study of prey species and prey selection of Dholes at 3 different sites was conducted at Khao Yai National Park, Salak Pra, and Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries from 2013 to 2020. Information on Dhole prey at the sites was collected from the residues of dhole scats, from which the selection index, the relative biomass of the prey, and the relative amounts of the consumed prey were calculated. The data were collected simultaneously with the use of camera traps at each site. The study revealed that there were 13 species of Dhole prey with body weight over 5 kg. The result indicated that there were 7 species of even-toed ungulates. The relative biomass of even-toed ungulates ranged between 76.78 - 90.50% of the total biomass of all the Dholes’ consumed prey for all study sites. The dietary diversity index unveiled a similar index in all areas, which proved the adequacy of the analyzed scats. However, the Niche breadth index, which indicates the relevance of prey selection and prey species to the appearances of the prey at each site, was found to be high at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Khao Yai National Park, while the index was found to be low at Salak Pra Wildlife Sanctuary. The results revealed that Dholes consumed viverrid species and Malayan porcupine more often at the site where there were large carnivores. The recommendation from this study was the conservation and restoration of the ungulate populations, the main prey, as it greatly affects the conservation of the Dhole populations in Thailand.  Grassland and salt lick sites, water sources improvements are also important to promote prey population. The conservation of wildlife prey by releasing them to nature, as currently conducted, has an effect on the increase of Dholes’ prey species.

scholarly journals Feeding Ecology of Short-Toed Snake-Eagle (Circaetus gallicus [Gmelin, 1788]) in the Montados of Iberian Peninsula

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-179
Author(s):  
Nuno Onofre ◽  
Luís Sampaio
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Prey Type ◽  
Generalist Predator ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Psammodromus Algirus ◽  
Circaetus Gallicus ◽  
Water Snakes

The diet of Short-toed Snake-eagle (Circaetus gallicus) during the breeding season in an area dominated by cork and holm oak parkland forests (Montados) was analyzed in this study. As expected, results showed that snakes are the dominant prey in the diet of this eagle, comprising up to 92.5% of the identified items, if potential secondary prey species were excluded. The Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) was the most consumed one (42.2%), followed by the Ladder Snake (Zamenis scalaris) (28.0%), and the water snakes (Natrix spp.) (14.2%). According to the same criteria, lizards (mainly Psammodromus algirus) and mammals represent between 4.8 and 2.2%, respectively. Other animals such as pond turtle and amphibians are irregular prey (<1%), and no bird remains were found at all. Short-toed Snake-eagle is usually referred as a stenophagic predator where snakes are by far its most important prey type, and where within this taxonomic group it behaves as a generalist predator. In this study this premise was then tested comparing the relative abundance of the snake species with their proportion in the diet composition of the eagle in order to know whether or not prey selection exists with regard to the species of snakes in this region. Results point to a quite plausible "preference" for the Ladder Snake and an "avoidance" for the smooth snakes group (Macroprotodon brevis/Coronella girondica), and possibly for the Horseshoe Whip (Hemorrhois hippocrepis). The avoidance to the Horseshoe Whip must be indirect and habitat related, while in relation to the two smooth snakes it may be due in large extend to its small size, in particular.

Discerning the diets of sweep-feeding eurypterids: assessing the importance of prey size to survivorship across the Late Devonian mass extinction in a phylogenetic context

Paleobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Emily S. Hughes ◽  
James C. Lamsdell
Keyword(s):  
Mass Extinction ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Size Range ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Phylogenetic Signal ◽  
Late Devonian ◽  
Evolutionary Trend ◽  
Average Spacing ◽  
Horseshoe Crabs ◽  
Mode Of Life

Abstract Eurypterids are generally considered to comprise a mixture of active nektonic to nektobenthic predators and benthic scavenger-predators exhibiting a mode of life similar to modern horseshoe crabs. However, two groups of benthic stylonurine eurypterids, the Stylonuroidea and Mycteropoidea, independently evolved modifications to the armature of their anterior appendages that have been considered adaptations toward a sweep-feeding life habit, and it has been suggested the evolution toward sweep-feeding may have permitted stylonurines to capture smaller prey species and may have been critical for the survival of mycteropoids during the Late Devonian mass extinction. There is a linear correlation between the average spacing of feeding structures and prey sizes among extant suspension feeders. Here, we extrapolate this relationship to sweep-feeding eurypterids in order to estimate the range of prey sizes that they could capture and examine prey size in a phylogenetic context to determine what role prey size played in determining survivorship during the Late Devonian. The mycteropoid Cyrtoctenus was the most specialized sweep-feeder, with comblike appendage armature capable of capturing mesoplankton out of suspension, while the majority of stylonurines possess armature corresponding to a prey size range of 1.6–52 mm, suggesting they were suited for capturing small benthic macroinvertebrates such as crustaceans, mollusks, and wormlike organisms. There is no clear phylogenetic signal to prey size distribution and no evolutionary trend toward decreasing prey sizes among Stylonurina. Rather than prey size, species survivorship during the Late Devonian was likely mediated by geographic distribution and ability to capitalize on the expanding freshwater benthos.

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