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Non-interactive multiple predator effects on tadpole survival

Ramos, Oscar ; Van Buskirk, Josh

In: Oecologia, 2012, vol. 169, no. 2, p. 535-539

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    Titre
    • Non-interactive multiple predator effects on tadpole survival
    Auteur
    • Ramos, Oscar. Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Van Buskirk, Josh. Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:311071
    Summary
    Interactions among and within three species of predators were estimated in terms of their effects on prey survival using short-term predation experiments. The prey were tadpoles (Rana temporaria), and the predators were dragonfly larvae (Anax imperator), newts (Triturus alpestris), and backswimmers (Notonecta glauca). Mortality rate per predator imposed by Triturus and Notonecta did not decline with predator density, whereas the predation rate of Anax was strongly reduced when the number of predator individuals increased. Impacts of all three predators were not altered by the presence of other species in pairwise combinations. This system is therefore characterized by interference between individual dragonflies but relatively independent effects of predator species. These results were largely predictable based on the natural history of the predators and are encouraging for attempts to model communities as assemblages of interacting species