Do predators condition the distribution of prey within micro habitats? An experiment with stoneflies (plecoptera)

Tiziano Bo, Stefano Fenoglio, Manuel Jesús López-Rodríguez, José Manuel Tierno de Figueroa, Marco Grenna, Marco Cucco

Risultato della ricerca: Contributo su rivistaArticolo in rivistapeer review

Abstract

The selection of habitat by macroinvertebrates living in running waters may be influenced by the physical characteristics of the substratum, as well as by the presence of other species. In this study, an artificial river with three different substrata (pebbles, detritus, and leaves) was utilized to analyze the microhabitat preference of two Plecoptera prey species (Amphinemura sulcicollis and Brachyptera risi), both in absence and in presence of a Plecoptera predator species (Perla marginata). In the absence of predators, both prey species showed a clear preference for the leaf microhabitat. When the predators were present, only Brachyptera risi showed a change of microhabitat selection, with a decrease of leaves and an increase of pebbles and detritus utilization. Amphinemura sulcicollis did not change their substratum utilization. This study demonstrates that the presence of a predator may affect microhabitat selection through a switch from the preferred to the less preferred substrata, although not all species change their habitat utilization in response to predator presence.

Lingua originaleInglese
pagine (da-a)285-295
Numero di pagine11
RivistaInternational Review of Hydrobiology
Volume95
Numero di pubblicazione3
DOI
Stato di pubblicazionePubblicato - giu 2010

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