Selective predation by benthivorous fish on stream macroinvertebrates – The role of prey traits and prey abundance

Worischka, Susanne; Schmidt, Susanne I.; Hellmann, Claudia; Winkelmann, Carola

doi:10.1016/j.limno.2015.03.004

Cited by 29 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Alternatively, predation pressure impacting the most abundant taxa (e.g. Worischka et al 2015) might also have differed between the stream types during the intervening winter season, with benthivorous fish notably abundant in three of the agricultural streams (227-683 individuals from a quantitative electrofishing survey), compared with the forested streams (0-86 individuals) (P.E. Carlson, unpublished data).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species traits reveal effects of land use, season and habitat on the potential subsidy of stream invertebrates to terrestrial food webs

et al. 2018

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Adult aquatic insects with a terrestrial life-stage are important vectors transferring resources assimilated in freshwater environments to terrestrial consumers. Research on this linkage has focused particularly on how terrestrial environmental features affect dispersal of adult aquatic insects, and on the responses of terrestrial consumers. However, both the timing and extent of dispersal by adult aquatic insects are further regulated by their species-specific life history traits. We sampled aquatic invertebrates from nine streams in central Sweden, and assessed how the composition of key traits related to dispersal and life history varied between in-stream habitats (riffles, pools), seasons (autumn, spring), and among streams differing in catchment land use (forested, agriculture). Traits indicative of more limited adult dispersal (e.g. small adult size and weak flying strength), along with traits indicative of strongly pulsed peaks in emergence (e.g. univoltinism and well-synchronised emergence) were all more abundant in the agricultural than forested streams in the autumn. However, these differences had disappeared by late spring, possibly reflecting early emergence by the univoltine taxa that dominated the agricultural stream communities and/or elevated mortality in the agricultural streams. Riffles supported higher abundances of insects with strongly flying adults, whereas traits associated with more limited dispersal were characteristic of insect assemblages in pools, which also supported the highest proportion of invertebrates completely lacking an adult flying stage. This result is likely to have implications at larger scales, given the dominance of soft-bottomed pool habitats and scarcity of riffles in many agricultural landscapes. Overall, our analysis indicates that while overall production of aquatic invertebrates with a winged adult was greater in agricultural streams, availability of this productivity for terrestrial consumers is more likely to be spatially restricted closer to the stream channel, and potentially also more temporally pulsed .

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species traits reveal effects of land use, season and habitat on the potential subsidy of stream invertebrates to terrestrial food webs

et al. 2018

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“…In contrast, other experiments have shown that the presence of alternative prey items did not change the consumption rate of the species of interest (Goodsell and Kats 1999;Drake et al 2014). In addition, some species prey on the most consistently abundant prey items, regardless of alternative prey species present (Worischka et al 2015). Whether a predator switches prey may depend on the identities and behaviours of the interacting predator and prey species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The preferred prey taxa (heptageniid mayflies) exhibited little size variation, and relatively few larval fishes were consumed. Preferences were affected by species-specific characteristics of prey and predators (Worischka et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of changes in alternative prey densities on predation of drifting lake sturgeon larvae (Acipenser fulvescens)

Waraniak

Valentine

Scribner

2017

Journal of Freshwater Ecology

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Predator-prey interactions including prey switching, predator swamping, and size-selectivity are important in maintaining multi-species systems. In fishes, early life stages are often recruitment bottlenecks due to high mortality partially caused by predation. High mortality is of particular concern for threatened species such as lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens). Effects of different relative prey densities were examined using two predatory fishes [rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) and hornyhead chub (Nocomis biguttatus)] and two density treatments of three prey [lake sturgeon, mayflies (Family: Heptageniidae), and suckers (Family: Catostomidae)]. Treatments consisted of prey introduced to predators in a series of pulses 30 min apart. In the initial low-density treatment, predators were offered prey at a pulse of prey at a 13:13:4 ratio of mayfly, suckers, and lake sturgeon, and a second pulse with a 1:1:1 prey ratio during the second pulse. In the equal-density treatment prey numbers were equivalent during both pulses. Larval sturgeon survival, predator preference, and size selection were measured for each trial. Lake sturgeon were the least preferred prey species while mayflies were positively selected. Hornyhead chub preference for lake sturgeon was higher in the equal-density treatment than in the low-density, indicating initial prey availability affected predator foraging behaviour. High densities of preferred macroinvertebrate prey could protect threatened lake sturgeon larvae from predation.

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“…) and only a few recent studies have examined the selectivity of predatory fish on several prey traits (Green and Côté ; Worischka et al. ). This new framework raises as a promising avenue to better understand predator–prey interactions and may also help predict the consequences of species extirpations and invasions on food webs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A trait‐based approach reveals the feeding selectivity of a small endangered Mediterranean fish

Rodríguez‐Lozano

Verkaik

Maceda‐Veiga

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Functional traits are growing in popularity in modern ecology, but feeding studies remain primarily rooted in a taxonomic-based perspective. However, consumers do not have any reason to select their prey using a taxonomic criterion, and prey assemblages are variable in space and time, which makes taxonbased studies assemblage-specific. To illustrate the benefits of the trait-based approach to assessing food choice, we studied the feeding ecology of the endangered freshwater fish Barbus meridionalis. We hypothesized that B. meridionalis is a selective predator which food choice depends on several prey morphological and behavioral traits, and thus, its top-down pressure may lead to changes in the functional composition of in-stream macroinvertebrate communities. Feeding selectivity was inferred by comparing taxonomic and functional composition (13 traits) between ingested and free-living potential prey using the Jacob's electivity index. Our results showed that the fish diet was influenced by 10 of the 13 traits tested. Barbus meridionalis preferred prey with a potential size of 5-10 mm, with a medium-high drift tendency, and that drift during daylight. Potential prey with no body flexibility, conical shape, concealment traits (presence of nets and/or cases, or patterned coloration), and high aggregation tendency had a low predation risk. Similarly, surface swimmers and interstitial taxa were low vulnerable to predation. Feeding selectivity altered the functional composition of the macroinvertebrate communities. Fish absence favored taxa with weak aggregation tendency, weak flexibility, and a relatively large size (10-20 mm of potential size). Besides, predatory invertebrates may increase in fish absence. In conclusion, our study shows that the incorporation of the trait-based approach in diet studies is a promising avenue to improve our mechanistic understanding of predator-prey interactions and to help predict the ecological outcomes of predator invasions and extinctions.

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Selective predation by benthivorous fish on stream macroinvertebrates – The role of prey traits and prey abundance

Abstract: Please cite this article as: Worischka, S., Schmidt, S.I., Hellmann, C., Winkelmann, C.,Selective predation by benthivorous fish on stream macroinvertebratesndashthe role of prey traits and prey abundance, Limnologica (2015), http://dx.

Cited by 29 publications

References 70 publications

Species traits reveal effects of land use, season and habitat on the potential subsidy of stream invertebrates to terrestrial food webs

Species traits reveal effects of land use, season and habitat on the potential subsidy of stream invertebrates to terrestrial food webs

Effects of changes in alternative prey densities on predation of drifting lake sturgeon larvae (Acipenser fulvescens)

A trait‐based approach reveals the feeding selectivity of a small endangered Mediterranean fish

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