Structural complexity and turbidity do not interact to influence predation rate and prey selectivity by a small visually feeding fish

Figueiredo, Bruno R. S.; Mormul, Roger Paulo; Benedito, Evanilde

doi:10.1071/mf14030

Cited by 29 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…In aquatic ecosystems, turbidity has been identified as a key factor regulating interactions between and within species, and in shaping community structure (Horppila & Liljendahl-Nurminen, 2005;Pangle et al, 2012;Figueiredo, Mormul & Benedito, 2015b). Turbidity directly affects fitness via trade-offs between acquiring food and avoiding predators (Lima & Dill, 1990;Leahy et al, 2011), and by disrupting the quality and amount of visual information available to animals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Turbidity amplifies the non‐lethal effects of predation and affects the foraging success of characid fish shoals

et al. 2016

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Summary In aquatic systems, many species rely primarily on visual cues to choose optimal foraging sites, capture prey and avoid potential threats. Increases in the turbidity of water reduce visibility and impede animals in determining the precise location of both predators and food. How individuals balance foraging decisions with anti‐predator behaviour in turbid environments is not well understood. We tested the effects of turbidity and predation risk on the foraging behaviour and feeding of an invertivorous fish, Moenkhausia forestii (Characidae), using a mesocosm experiment with a 2 × 2 design, crossing water clarity (clear versus turbid) with predation risk as reflected by the presence or absence of the piscivorous wolf‐fish Hoplias aff. malabaricus (Erythrinidae). We predicted that turbidity and predator presence would interact additively to reduce foraging rates, and that increased turbidity or predator presence would result in disproportionate food partitioning among shoal members. The combination of high turbidity and predator presence resulted in a significant reduction in prey consumption. Foraging success exhibited a skewed distribution in the turbid treatment, i.e. there was a decreased evenness of food partitioning within shoals. Hence, both turbidity and predator presence affect the prey consumption and foraging behaviour of invertivorous fish, with turbidity amplifying the non‐lethal effects of predation risk on foraging success. Our results imply that turbidity‐induced visual obstruction amplifies the negative effects of predator presence on invertivorous fish feeding behaviour, resulting in higher prey survival. Also, our finding that food intake by an intermediate consumer decreased in turbid water with a top predator lends no support to the hypothesis that intermediate consumer fish reduce their anti‐predator behaviour in turbid water. From a management perspective, our findings suggest that the oligotrophication of aquatic systems could dramatically increase predation on basal prey organisms naturally adapted to turbid waters, and reduce within‐shoal differences in feeding behaviour.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Turbidity amplifies the non‐lethal effects of predation and affects the foraging success of characid fish shoals

et al. 2016

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“…Chironomidae larva of the genus Chironomus were collected in an urban stream and kept in sand filled trays. This genus presents a characteristic reddish color and has been used in several experiments as prey for small characids (Padial et al, 2009;Figueiredo et al, 2015a).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat complexity does not influence prey consumption in an experimental three-level trophic chain

Granzotti

Muniz

Gomes

2018

Iheringia, Sér. Zool.

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Habitat complexity influences species diversity and regulates trophic interactions, mostly by increasing resource partitioning within habitats and providing refuge for prey. The influence of habitat complexity on more than two trophic levels is not well understood, mainly because behavioral modifications of prey and predator may influence the outcome of trophic interactions. Thus, we conducted a two-factor experiment with a three-level trophic chain: a piscivorous fish [Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus (Spix & Agassiz 1829)], an invertivorous fish (Moenkhausia forestii Benine, Mariguela & C. de Oliveira, 2009) and an aquatic macroinvertebrate (Chironomidae larvae). We measured prey consumption in low, intermediate and high habitat complexity, provided by submerged macrophyte densities, in the presence and the absence of the piscivore, intending to test the hypothesis that higher habitat complexities decrease predators foraging success in different trophic levels. We calculated the percentage of consumed prey in all treatment combinations. There was no significant effect of habitat complexity on prey consumption for neither the piscivorous nor the invertivorous fish, but a positive correlation was found between the percentages of consumed prey by both the piscivore and the invertivore. Observed modifications in the foraging behavior of the piscivore may have resulted in similar prey consumptions in low and high macrophyte densities. Moreover, more active M. forestii could have suffered a higher predation pressure by H. unitaeniatus, resulting in the positive correlation found. We conclude that behavior patterns in different habitat complexities possibly influenced predation rates in the three experimental trophic levels.

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“…O período de aclimatação das presas e dos predadores foi diferente, devido a seu tamanho e comportamento distintos. Na literatura que reporta experimentos ecológicos, a espécie utilizada como presa geralmente é aclimatada nas condições experimentais por períodos que variam de 8 a 72 h (e.g., FIGUEIREDO et al, 2015), enquanto peixes predadores são aclimatados por pelo menos 14 dias (e.g. MURRAY et al, 2016 SILVA, 2014).…”

Section: Alguns Pontos Essenciais De Um Experimento Manipulativounclassified

Princípios básicos para testes de hipóteses com uso de experimentos manipulativos em ecologia: relato de um experimento de predador-presa

Granzotti

Gomes

2016

arqmudi

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ResumoExperimentos manipulativos são formas de testar hipóteses em que se controla uma ou mais variáveis de interesse para obter-se uma resposta, determinando as relações de causa e efeito. Alguns pontos-chave dessa abordagem são: a similaridade das condições experimentais com as condições naturais dos organismos e o controle dessas variáveis nas unidades experimentais; a aclimatação dos organismos utilizados; e a condução de um experimento piloto. O objetivo desse trabalho é relatar a metodologia de um experimento manipulativo sobre a influência da complexidade de habitat no sucesso de predação de um predador, com especial atenção à importância da aclimatação adequada dos organismos utilizados no experimento e da condução de um experimento piloto para testar o delineamento experimental planejado. Após um experimento piloto, o predador e as presas foram aclimatados e colocados em aquários com diferentes densidades de macrófitas submersas, em três níveis com cinco réplicas cada. Após duas horas, as presas remanescentes nos aquários foram contadas. As diferenças entre os tratamentos foram avaliadas por testes t de Student, mas não foram encontrados efeitos significativos da complexidade de habitat no consumo de presas pelo predador.

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Structural complexity and turbidity do not interact to influence predation rate and prey selectivity by a small visually feeding fish

Cited by 29 publications

References 57 publications

Turbidity amplifies the non‐lethal effects of predation and affects the foraging success of characid fish shoals

Turbidity amplifies the non‐lethal effects of predation and affects the foraging success of characid fish shoals

Habitat complexity does not influence prey consumption in an experimental three-level trophic chain

Princípios básicos para testes de hipóteses com uso de experimentos manipulativos em ecologia: relato de um experimento de predador-presa

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