Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1989

Publication Title

Ecological Monographs

Volume

59

Issue

3

Pages

311-328

Abstract

The impact of variable predation by bluegill sunfish on macroinvertebrate prey in a North Florida lake is examined. Variable predation may occur in many systems and may contribute substantially to the spatial heterogeneity, temporal inconstancy and species composition of prey communities.

Patchy, temporally variable predation characterized middepth and deep lake habitats, whereas in the shallow zone predation was relatively constant and homogeneous. Predation varied significantly every 2-4 wk in the mid-depth zone, but varied little between consecutive weeks or days. Caging experiments revealed that variable predation altered prey community composition and increased the mean size and size range of some prey (e.g. Odonata) as compared to the constant predation treatment. Prey abundances also appeared more heterogeneous among cages (patches) and varied more temporally under a variable predation regime. However, total prey abundance, species abundance, and within-patch spatial heterogeneity did not differ among predator treatments. In general, the macroinvertebrate community exposed to variable predation more closely approximated the natural middepth zone community than that from the constant predation regime. Previous studies of fish predation on macroinvertebrate communities have concentrated on shallow littoral habitats, but these result suggest that conclusions drawn from shallow habitats may not be representative of all lake zones. Variable predation may occur in many systems, and may contribute substantially to the spatial heterogeneity, temporal inconstancy, and species composition of prey communities.

Original Publication Citation

Butler, M.J., IV. (1989). Community responses to variable predation: Field studies with sunfish and freshwater macroinvertebrates. Ecological Monographs, 59(3), 311.

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