Predation risk and habitat complexity modify intermediate predator feeding rates and energetic efficiencies in a tri-trophic system
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60076658%3A12310%2F19%3A43899397" target="_blank" >RIV/60076658:12310/19:43899397 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/fwb.13320" target="_blank" >https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/fwb.13320</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13320" target="_blank" >10.1111/fwb.13320</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Predation risk and habitat complexity modify intermediate predator feeding rates and energetic efficiencies in a tri-trophic system
Original language description
To understand the effects of environmental changes on ecosystems, it is important to determine the factors and mechanisms influencing the strength of species interactions in food webs. However, joint effects of predation risk and additional environmental factors on species interaction strengths in multitrophic systems remain largely unexplored, leaving a substantial gap in our understanding of the links between local environmental characteristics and food web properties. To fill this gap, we investigated the effects of habitat complexity and predation risk by top predatory dragonfly larvae (Aeshna cyanea) on feeding rates and energetic efficiency (i.e. the ratio of acquired and expended energy) of the larvae of three intermediate predatory odonate species (Libellula quadrimaculata, Sympetrum sanguineum, and Ischnura elegans) preying on cladocerans. We hypothesised that predation risk would decrease the feeding rate, especially in the structurally simple habitat, and increase the metabolic rate of all intermediate predators. We also expected higher feeding rates of intermediate predators using aquatic vegetation as a perching site (i.e. Sympetrum and Ischnura) in the structurally complex habitat. Finally, we expected to observe habitat- and predation risk-dependent energetic efficiencies of the intermediate predators driven by changes in feeding and metabolic rates. The effect of predation risk on feeding rates was species specific and differed between the structurally simple and complex habitat. Habitat complexity increased feeding rates but only in the absence of predation risk. Moreover, predation risk signalled by chemical cues significantly increased Sympetrum vulgatum feeding rates but did not influence the feeding rates of the two other intermediate predators. Metabolic rates varied among the three intermediate predators but were not affected by predation risk. Estimated energetic efficiency decreased with intermediate predator body mass and depended, to a lesser extent, on the interactive effect of habitat complexity and predation risk. Our results imply that the effects of habitat complexity and predation risk on trophic interactions are likely to be determined by traits related to foraging and defence of the intermediate predators and their habitat domains, and that energetic efficiency is mainly determined by predator mass. Given that habitat complexity and predation risk can vary substantially across habitats, we conclude that it is important to consider habitat complexity and predation risk to better understand and predict the effects of environmentally driven variations on trophic interaction strength and metabolic rates that underlie the energetic efficiency of individual consumers. This has important implications for population and community dynamics as well as ecosystem functioning.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10618 - Ecology
Result continuities
Project
Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.
Continuities
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)
Others
Publication year
2019
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Freshwater Biology
ISSN
0046-5070
e-ISSN
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Volume of the periodical
64
Issue of the periodical within the volume
8
Country of publishing house
US - UNITED STATES
Number of pages
12
Pages from-to
1480-1491
UT code for WoS article
000474661800010
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85067402324