Predator size affects the intensity of mutual interference in a predatory mirid.

ABSTRACT: Interference competition occurs when access to an available resource is negatively affected by interactions with other individuals, where mutual interference involves individuals of the same species. The interactive phenomena among individuals may be size-dependent, since body size is a major factor that may alter prey consumption rates and ultimately the dynamics and structure of food webs.A study was initiated in order to evaluate the effect of mutual interference in the prey-specific attack rates and handling times of same size class predators, incorporating variation in consumer size. For this purpose, laboratory functional response experiments were conducted using same age predators, that is, newly hatched (first instar) or mature (fifth instar) nymphs of the polyphagous mirid predato

SUBMITTER: Papanikolaou NE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7863380 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature