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Does relative abundance modify multiple predator effects?

John Griffin Orcid Logo, Benjamin J. Toscano, Blaine D. Griffen, Brian R. Silliman

Basic and Applied Ecology

Swansea University Author: John Griffin Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.baae.2015.05.003

Abstract

Ecologists have long known that multiple predator species can interact with each other and thereby either strengthen or weaken overall prey regulation. With few exceptions, our understanding of such ‘multiple predator effects’ (MPEs) is based on experimental combinations of predators at a single rel...

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Published in: Basic and Applied Ecology
Published: 2015
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa23633
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first_indexed 2015-10-09T02:08:14Z
last_indexed 2018-02-09T05:02:39Z
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fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2015-10-08T19:46:44.6082649</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>23633</id><entry>2015-10-08</entry><title>Does relative abundance modify multiple predator effects?</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>9814fbffa76dd9c9a207166354cd0b2f</sid><ORCID>0000-0003-3295-6480</ORCID><firstname>John</firstname><surname>Griffin</surname><name>John Griffin</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2015-10-08</date><deptcode>SBI</deptcode><abstract>Ecologists have long known that multiple predator species can interact with each other and thereby either strengthen or weaken overall prey regulation. With few exceptions, our understanding of such &#x2018;multiple predator effects&#x2019; (MPEs) is based on experimental combinations of predators at a single relative density (usually 1:1). Because MPEs depend on interspecific interactions between predators, we hypothesized they would vary, potentially non-linearly, with predator species relative abundance. We tested this hypothesis in a southeastern US salt marsh by manipulating two species of predatory crab to generate a continuous relative abundance gradient. After four months, we evaluated the density of two shared prey species (snails and fiddler crabs) across this gradient, before explicitly testing for: (1) the presence of overall MPEs on the densities of these prey; (2) whether (and how) potential MPEs varied as a function of relative abundance; and (3) how indicators of predator&#x2013;predator interactions (survivorship and limbs lost in contests) were affected by relative abundance. The final density of both prey species varied with relative abundance, but the sign of these effects switched depending on prey identity. The results failed to support an overall MPE on snail density, but final fiddler crab density was higher than expected (i.e., risk reduction, or an overall negative MPE on fiddler crab suppression). Counter to our prediction, this MPE did not vary as a function of relative abundance. Predator survivorship and limb loss indicated asymmetrical negative interactions that strongly impacted the predator species most effective at suppressing fiddler crabs, suggesting an explanation for the negative MPE observed for this prey species. Our findings suggest that MPEs are not always sensitive to species relative abundance, but given that shifts in predator relative abundance are frequently observed in nature, future studies should incorporate this aspect of biodiversity change into their designs wherever possible.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Basic and Applied Ecology</journal><publisher/><keywords/><publishedDay>31</publishedDay><publishedMonth>12</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2015</publishedYear><publishedDate>2015-12-31</publishedDate><doi>10.1016/j.baae.2015.05.003</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Biosciences</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>SBI</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm/><lastEdited>2015-10-08T19:46:44.6082649</lastEdited><Created>2015-10-08T19:46:44.6082649</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Science and Engineering</level><level id="2">School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences</level></path><authors><author><firstname>John</firstname><surname>Griffin</surname><orcid>0000-0003-3295-6480</orcid><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Benjamin J.</firstname><surname>Toscano</surname><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Blaine D.</firstname><surname>Griffen</surname><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Brian R.</firstname><surname>Silliman</surname><order>4</order></author></authors><documents/><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2015-10-08T19:46:44.6082649 v2 23633 2015-10-08 Does relative abundance modify multiple predator effects? 9814fbffa76dd9c9a207166354cd0b2f 0000-0003-3295-6480 John Griffin John Griffin true false 2015-10-08 SBI Ecologists have long known that multiple predator species can interact with each other and thereby either strengthen or weaken overall prey regulation. With few exceptions, our understanding of such ‘multiple predator effects’ (MPEs) is based on experimental combinations of predators at a single relative density (usually 1:1). Because MPEs depend on interspecific interactions between predators, we hypothesized they would vary, potentially non-linearly, with predator species relative abundance. We tested this hypothesis in a southeastern US salt marsh by manipulating two species of predatory crab to generate a continuous relative abundance gradient. After four months, we evaluated the density of two shared prey species (snails and fiddler crabs) across this gradient, before explicitly testing for: (1) the presence of overall MPEs on the densities of these prey; (2) whether (and how) potential MPEs varied as a function of relative abundance; and (3) how indicators of predator–predator interactions (survivorship and limbs lost in contests) were affected by relative abundance. The final density of both prey species varied with relative abundance, but the sign of these effects switched depending on prey identity. The results failed to support an overall MPE on snail density, but final fiddler crab density was higher than expected (i.e., risk reduction, or an overall negative MPE on fiddler crab suppression). Counter to our prediction, this MPE did not vary as a function of relative abundance. Predator survivorship and limb loss indicated asymmetrical negative interactions that strongly impacted the predator species most effective at suppressing fiddler crabs, suggesting an explanation for the negative MPE observed for this prey species. Our findings suggest that MPEs are not always sensitive to species relative abundance, but given that shifts in predator relative abundance are frequently observed in nature, future studies should incorporate this aspect of biodiversity change into their designs wherever possible. Journal Article Basic and Applied Ecology 31 12 2015 2015-12-31 10.1016/j.baae.2015.05.003 COLLEGE NANME Biosciences COLLEGE CODE SBI Swansea University 2015-10-08T19:46:44.6082649 2015-10-08T19:46:44.6082649 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences John Griffin 0000-0003-3295-6480 1 Benjamin J. Toscano 2 Blaine D. Griffen 3 Brian R. Silliman 4
title Does relative abundance modify multiple predator effects?
spellingShingle Does relative abundance modify multiple predator effects?
John Griffin
title_short Does relative abundance modify multiple predator effects?
title_full Does relative abundance modify multiple predator effects?
title_fullStr Does relative abundance modify multiple predator effects?
title_full_unstemmed Does relative abundance modify multiple predator effects?
title_sort Does relative abundance modify multiple predator effects?
author_id_str_mv 9814fbffa76dd9c9a207166354cd0b2f
author_id_fullname_str_mv 9814fbffa76dd9c9a207166354cd0b2f_***_John Griffin
author John Griffin
author2 John Griffin
Benjamin J. Toscano
Blaine D. Griffen
Brian R. Silliman
format Journal article
container_title Basic and Applied Ecology
publishDate 2015
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.1016/j.baae.2015.05.003
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences
document_store_str 0
active_str 0
description Ecologists have long known that multiple predator species can interact with each other and thereby either strengthen or weaken overall prey regulation. With few exceptions, our understanding of such ‘multiple predator effects’ (MPEs) is based on experimental combinations of predators at a single relative density (usually 1:1). Because MPEs depend on interspecific interactions between predators, we hypothesized they would vary, potentially non-linearly, with predator species relative abundance. We tested this hypothesis in a southeastern US salt marsh by manipulating two species of predatory crab to generate a continuous relative abundance gradient. After four months, we evaluated the density of two shared prey species (snails and fiddler crabs) across this gradient, before explicitly testing for: (1) the presence of overall MPEs on the densities of these prey; (2) whether (and how) potential MPEs varied as a function of relative abundance; and (3) how indicators of predator–predator interactions (survivorship and limbs lost in contests) were affected by relative abundance. The final density of both prey species varied with relative abundance, but the sign of these effects switched depending on prey identity. The results failed to support an overall MPE on snail density, but final fiddler crab density was higher than expected (i.e., risk reduction, or an overall negative MPE on fiddler crab suppression). Counter to our prediction, this MPE did not vary as a function of relative abundance. Predator survivorship and limb loss indicated asymmetrical negative interactions that strongly impacted the predator species most effective at suppressing fiddler crabs, suggesting an explanation for the negative MPE observed for this prey species. Our findings suggest that MPEs are not always sensitive to species relative abundance, but given that shifts in predator relative abundance are frequently observed in nature, future studies should incorporate this aspect of biodiversity change into their designs wherever possible.
published_date 2015-12-31T03:27:54Z
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score 11.017016

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