Combined effects of predator cues and competition define habitat choice and food consumption of amphipod mesograzers.

ABSTRACT: Predation has direct impact on prey populations by reducing prey abundance. In addition, predator presence alone can also have non-consumptive effects on prey species, potentially influencing their interspecific interactions and thus the structure of entire assemblages. The performance of potential prey species may, therefore, depend on both the presence of predators and competitors. We studied habitat use and food consumption of a marine mesograzer, the amphipod Echinogammarus marinus, in the presence/absence of a fish mesopredator and/or an amphipod competitor. The presence of the predator affected both habitat choice and food consumption of the grazer, indicating a trade-off between the use of predator-free space and food acquisition. Without the predator, E. marinus were distributed eq

SUBMITTER: Beermann J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5829112 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature