15 - Potential for specialization in feeding behavior in a generalist species of polychaete in the Chesapeake Bay

Description/Abstract/Artist Statement

Generalist species are known for their ability to thrive in a wide range of habitats by adapting to diverse environmental conditions and consuming various food sources. Evidence suggests that generalist species can exhibit specialist behavior at a population level and are known as generalist specialists. Differing prey availability and environmental conditions between habitats can cause individuals to utilize different feeding strategies to exploit available resources efficiently. While population specialization has been documented in mammals, there is a lack of information on this adaptation in generalist macrobenthic invertebrates. This study attempts to understand possible feeding specialization in a generalist species of Nereid polychaete, Alitta succinea. This species is known to exhibit a broad ecological niche and show varying feeding modes, such as detritivory, carnivory, and omnivory. Habitat material and A. succinea specimens were collected from a mudflat, rocky shore, and fouling community in the Chesapeake Bay. The species composition and abundance of each habitat were characterized to assess what A. succinea could prey upon. Traits linked to the species’ feeding behavior, such as proxies for eye size, body size, jaw length, and palp size, were measured to detect morphological adaptations. Lastly, gut content analysis was done to characterize the diet of the collected specimens. Due to the higher biodiversity of the fouling community, we predict that specimens in this habitat will rely more frequently on carnivory than deposit-feeding, with consequent morphological adaptations. These findings could offer new perspectives on the role of generalist specialists in marine ecosystems.

Presenting Author Name/s

April Burgos-Toledo

Faculty Advisor/Mentor

Abby Ethridge, Gloria Massamba N'Siala

Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department

Department of Biological Sciences

College Affiliation

College of Sciences

Presentation Type

Poster

Disciplines

Biodiversity | Biology | Marine Biology | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

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15 - Potential for specialization in feeding behavior in a generalist species of polychaete in the Chesapeake Bay

Generalist species are known for their ability to thrive in a wide range of habitats by adapting to diverse environmental conditions and consuming various food sources. Evidence suggests that generalist species can exhibit specialist behavior at a population level and are known as generalist specialists. Differing prey availability and environmental conditions between habitats can cause individuals to utilize different feeding strategies to exploit available resources efficiently. While population specialization has been documented in mammals, there is a lack of information on this adaptation in generalist macrobenthic invertebrates. This study attempts to understand possible feeding specialization in a generalist species of Nereid polychaete, Alitta succinea. This species is known to exhibit a broad ecological niche and show varying feeding modes, such as detritivory, carnivory, and omnivory. Habitat material and A. succinea specimens were collected from a mudflat, rocky shore, and fouling community in the Chesapeake Bay. The species composition and abundance of each habitat were characterized to assess what A. succinea could prey upon. Traits linked to the species’ feeding behavior, such as proxies for eye size, body size, jaw length, and palp size, were measured to detect morphological adaptations. Lastly, gut content analysis was done to characterize the diet of the collected specimens. Due to the higher biodiversity of the fouling community, we predict that specimens in this habitat will rely more frequently on carnivory than deposit-feeding, with consequent morphological adaptations. These findings could offer new perspectives on the role of generalist specialists in marine ecosystems.