Predator–prey interactions of Procambarus clarkii with aquatic macroinvertebrates in single and multiple prey systems |
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Authors: | Alexandra Maral Correia Nuno Bandeira Pedro Manuel Anastcio |
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Institution: | aDepartamento de Zoologia e Antropologia (Museu Bocage), Museu Nacional de História Natural (MNHN), Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biologia Ambiental (CBA), Rua da Escola Politécnica 58, 1269-102 Lisbon, Portugal;bIMAR-Institute of Marine Research, c/o Departmento de Ecologia, Universidade de Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho, no 59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal |
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Abstract: | Understanding the interspecific interactions of Procambarus clarkii with other aquatic macroinvertebrates will help to unveil the mechanisms and processes underlying biological invasiveness. The purpose of this study was to investigate predator–prey interactions of two ontogenic phases of P. clarkii with native and exotic species of aquatic macroinvertebrates at a single and multiple prey level. We performed laboratory experiments to determine the consumption and the behavioral responses of Chironomus riparius, Physa acuta and Corbicula fluminea to P. clarkii. The presence of P. clarkii significantly affected the abundance of C. riparius and P. acuta, but not of C. fluminea whether prey species were provided singly or simultaneously. The consumption of C. riparius by P. clarkii was higher than P. acuta for both crayfish sizes and situations (single/multiple prey systems) and C. fluminea was never consumed. Physa acuta was the only species that exhibited an anti-predator behavior to P. clarkii. Our results show that P. clarkii can have strong consumptive and trait effects on aquatic macroinvertebrate prey at a single and multiple prey level, resulting in differential impacts on different prey species. This study clarifies some aspects of the predator–prey interactions between P. clarkii and native as well as other exotic macroinvertebrate species that have invaded freshwater biocenosis worldwide. |
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Keywords: | Crayfish Chironomus riparius Physa acuta Corbicula fluminea Invasive species Native species Consumptive effects Anti-predator behavior |
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