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Predator effects on prey population dynamics in open systems

  • Community Ecology - Original Paper
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Abstract

Animal population dynamics in open systems are affected not only by agents of mortality and the influence of species interactions on behavior and life histories, but also by dispersal and recruitment. We used an extensive data set to compare natural loss rates of two mayfly species that co-occur in high-elevation streams varying in predation risk, and experience different abiotic conditions during larval development. Our goals were to generate hypotheses relating predation to variation in prey population dynamics and to evaluate alternative mechanisms to explain such variation. While neither loss rates nor abundance of the species that develops during snowmelt (Baetis bicaudatus) varied systematically with fish, loss rates of the species that develops during baseflow (Baetis B) were higher in streams containing brook trout than streams without fish; and surprisingly, larvae of this species were most abundant in trout streams. This counter-intuitive pattern could not be explained by a trophic cascade, because densities of intermediate predators (stoneflies) did not differ between fish and fishless streams and predation by trout on stoneflies was negligible. A statistical model estimated that higher recruitment and accelerated development enables Baetis B to maintain larger populations in trout streams despite higher mortality from predation. Experimental estimates suggested that predation by trout potentially accounts for natural losses of Baetis B, but not Baetis bicaudatus. Predation by stoneflies on Baetis is negligible in fish streams, but could make an important contribution to observed losses of both species in fishless streams. Non-predatory sources of loss were higher for B. bicaudatus in trout streams, and for Baetis B in fishless streams. We conclude that predation alone cannot explain variation in population dynamics of either species; and the relative importance of predation is species- and environment-specific compared to non-predatory losses, such as other agents of mortality and non-consumptive effects of predators.

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Acknowledgements

This study was made possible by the dedication and perseverance of many field biologists smitten by the wonders of the organisms: Chester Anderson, Leon Barmuta, Gail Blake, Wendy Brown, Chris Caudill, Bryan and Alison Horn, Menna Jones, Dave Lytle, Eric Odell, Emma Pearce, Marge Penton, Tracy Smith, Darcy Tickner, Brooke Zanetell, Dave and Ann Zweig. Gail Blake and Chester Anderson helped count and stage the insects. Suggestions from Peter Abrams, Anurag Agrawal, Sebastian Diehl, Andrea Encalada, Steve Kohler, Kate Macneale, Mark McPeek, Jennifer Thaler, Mike Winterbourn, and anonymous reviewers improved earlier drafts. Thanks to Mark Taper who suggested the analysis of covariance models. This study was funded by National Science Foundation DEB 93-06842 and DEB 00-89863 to B. L. P., DEB 96-29404 to B. L. P. and A. R. M.; a Fulbright travel award, a New Zealand Science and Technology Post-doctoral Fellowship, and funding from the University of Canterbury to A. R. M. We declare that the experiments in this study comply with the laws of the United States and New Zealand.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Barbara L. Peckarsky

  2. Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, P.O. Box 519, Crested Butte, CO, 81224, USA

    Barbara L. Peckarsky, Brad W. Taylor & Angus R. McIntosh

  3. Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA

    Billie L. Kerans

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA

    Brad W. Taylor

  5. School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Angus R. McIntosh

Authors
  1. Barbara L. Peckarsky
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  2. Billie L. Kerans
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  3. Brad W. Taylor
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  4. Angus R. McIntosh
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Correspondence to Barbara L. Peckarsky.

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Communicated by Steven Kohler.

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Peckarsky, B.L., Kerans, B.L., Taylor, B.W. et al. Predator effects on prey population dynamics in open systems. Oecologia 156, 431–440 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-008-1004-3

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