Cooccurrence of prey species alters the impact of predators on prey performance through multiple mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: When prey are differentially affected by intra and interspecific competition, the cooccurrence of multiple prey species alters the per capita availability of food for a particular prey species which could alter how prey respond to the threat of predation, and hence the overall-effect of predators. We conducted an experiment to examine the extent to which the nonconsumptive and overall effect of predatory water bugs on snail and tadpole traits (performance and morphology) depended on whether tadpoles and snails cooccurred. Tadpoles and snails differed in their relative susceptibility to intraspecific and interspecific competition, and predators affected both prey species via consumptive and nonconsumptive mechanisms. Furthermore, the overall effect of predators often depended on whether ano

SUBMITTER: Ruehl CB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6157665 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature