Stem stiffness plays a role in determining the foraging success of predators

The presence of macrophytes in the littoral zone provide prey animals with protection from predators. Two macrophyte characters, stem density and branching, are known to hinder predator foraging in macrophyte beds. Stem stiffness is a character that allows the macrophyte to withstand current power i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 2014-07, Vol.732 (1), p.173-181
Main Author: Katayama, Motoki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Aquatic plants
Biomedical and Life Sciences
branches
Cynops ensicauda
Ecology
foraging
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Insects
Intertidal zone
Larvae
Life Sciences
Littoral zone
macrophytes
Predation
Predators
Prey
Primary Research Paper
Rubber
salamanders and newts
Salamandridae
Stems
Survival
survival rate
Tide pool ecology
Wildlife conservation
Zoology
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Summary:The presence of macrophytes in the littoral zone provide prey animals with protection from predators. Two macrophyte characters, stem density and branching, are known to hinder predator foraging in macrophyte beds. Stem stiffness is a character that allows the macrophyte to withstand current power in the intertidal zone, but its effect on predator movements in macrophyte beds has not been studied to date. In this study I examined whether the foraging success of predators is constrained by stem stiffness, as well as stem density and the presence of branches. Artificial macrophytes were constructed using two types of rubber that differed in stiffness. The newt Cynops ensicauda popei and larvae of the damselfly Paracercion melanotum were used as predator and prey, respectively, in this model system. The results revealed that all three plant characters studied influenced the survival rate of prey. Stiff stems consistently increased the survival rate compared with flexible stems. Stem density had the highest positive influence on survival rate. The direct effect of branches was negative and minute, but it altered the dependency on stem density. Although stiffness did have an effect on the survival rate of prey, its magnitude was relatively low. The effect of stiffness in other settings should be examined in future studies.
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1007/s10750-014-1857-x