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Marks AN, Gray MW, Nichols K, Zacherl DC. In situ habitat clearance rates and particle size preference of indigenous Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida) and non-native Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas) in North American Pacific coast estuaries. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169267. [PMID: 38092205 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida, is the target of many restoration projects along estuaries on the North American Pacific coast, while the non-native Pacific oyster, Magallana gigas, dominates oyster aquaculture globally. Both species provide filtration functions that were investigated in three California bays using a whole-habitat, in situ approach, a laboratory particle selection experiment, and a regional physiological comparison. Measurements of chlorophyll α, temperature, salinity, and turbidity upstream and downstream, as well as point samples of seston total particulate matter and organic content to estimate habitat clearance rates (HCR, L hr-1 m-2) were collected. From February 2018 to June 2019, twenty-two trials were conducted across four sites. HCRs were highly variable within and among sites, ranging from site averages of -464 to 166 L hr-1 m-2, and not significantly different among sites, indicating field filtration performance of O. lurida habitat and M. gigas aquaculture is similar. Using a random forest regression, site was the most important predictor of HCR, with a variable importance score of 25.7 % (SD = 4.6 %). O. lurida and M. gigas had significantly different particle size selection preferences, likely affecting the quality of their filtration. This study's findings suggest that restoring O. lurida habitat may provide similar filtration benefits as M. gigas aquaculture, but the unique hydrodynamics and food quality of individual bays, as well as regional differences in filter feeder communities, must be considered in managing oyster habitat for filtration functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Althea N Marks
- Department of Biological Science, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton 92831, CA, USA; School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, WA, USA.
| | - Matthew W Gray
- Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge 21613, MD, USA
| | - Kevin Nichols
- Department of Mathematics, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton 92831, CA, USA
| | - Danielle C Zacherl
- Department of Biological Science, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton 92831, CA, USA
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2
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Xu M, Xu Y, Yang J, Li J, Zhang H, Xu K, Zhang Y, Otaki T, Zhao Q, Zhang Y, Yin Z, Komatsu T. Seasonal variations in the diversity and benthic community structure of subtidal artificial oyster reefs adjacent to the Luanhe River Estuary, Bohai Sea. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17650. [PMID: 37848460 PMCID: PMC10582260 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44176-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial oyster reefs provide important spawning and nursery grounds for a variety of fishes and large mobile crustaceans. Between July 2016 and May 2017, seasonal surveys of species composition and community structure were performed in the artificial oyster reef area and control area adjacent to the Luanhe River Estuary in China. During the survey year, 56 species belonging to 50 genera, 45 families, and 19 orders were recorded. The dominant economically important fish and mobile crustaceans were Hexagrammos otakii, Pholis fangi, Sebastes schlegelii, Charybdis japonica, and Oratosquilla oratoria. Resident fishes belonged to the Cynoglossidae, Paralichthyidae, Pleuronectidae, and Gobiidae families. Seasonally important fish species included Lateolabrax japonicus, Konosirus punctatus, Thryssa kammalensis, Hexagrammos agrammus, and Acanthopagrus schlegelii. The ranges of H' values among stations were 1.18-2.16, 0.65-1.75, 1.18-2.06, and 0.62-1.92 in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. The benthic organisms present in the community of artificial oyster reef areas can be classified into groups according to month and season. The abundance biomass curves showed that the oyster reef area in spring, autumn, and winter experienced low disturbance, whereas the community structure in summer was subject to large variations from external disturbance. We also found that as the age of the oyster reefs increased, the percentage of oysters in the low shell height group (< 40 mm) decreased. The oyster density was 324 ind/m2 for the reef created in 2016, 724 ind/m2 for the reef created in 2015, and 364 ind/m2 for the reef created in 2013. These findings can be used to develop suitable management strategies for the sustainable maintenance of artificial oyster reef ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Xu
- Key Laboratory of East China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai, 200090, China
- East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No 300, Jungong Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200090, China
| | - Yufu Xu
- Hebei Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Qinghuangdao, 066200, China
| | - Jisong Yang
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
- College of Marine Science and Environment, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Jiaxing Li
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
- College of Marine Science and Environment, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Haipeng Zhang
- Hebei Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Qinghuangdao, 066200, China
| | - Kaida Xu
- Marine Fisheries Research Institute of Zhejiang, Zhoushan, 316021, China
| | - Yunling Zhang
- Hebei Provincial Technology Innovation Center for Coastal Ecology Rehabilitation, Tangshan Marine Ranching Co. Ltd, Tangshan, 063610, China
| | - Takayoshi Otaki
- Japan Fisheries Information Service Center, Tokyo, 104-0055, Japan
| | - Qi Zhao
- Hebei Provincial Technology Innovation Center for Coastal Ecology Rehabilitation, Tangshan Marine Ranching Co. Ltd, Tangshan, 063610, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of East China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai, 200090, China.
- East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No 300, Jungong Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200090, China.
| | - Zengqiang Yin
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China.
- College of Marine Science and Environment, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China.
| | - Teruhisa Komatsu
- Japan Fisheries Resource Conservation Association, Tokyo, 104-0044, Japan
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Towne ZW, Judge ML, O’Connor NJ. Intertidal habitat complexity influences the density of the non-native crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15161. [PMID: 37041978 PMCID: PMC10083005 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Habitat structural complexity can provide protection from predators, potentially affecting population density of native and non-native prey. The invasive Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, occurs in variable densities in the rocky intertidal zone of eastern North America and northern Europe, often in densities greater than in its native range. The present study examined the influence of habitat complexity on the density of H. sanguineus. Artificial shelters of concrete pavers with stones arranged in increasing complexity were deployed in the intertidal zone along a rocky shore in southeastern Massachusetts, USA, for 21 consecutive weekly intervals in 2020. Crabs consistently reached the highest densities in the most complex shelters despite their lower internal surface area. In addition, crabs exhibited shelter selectivity based on body size, with large crabs occupying artificial shelters in greater numbers than adjacent natural substrate. In a subsequent lab study, crab activity over 1 h was observed in the presence of the same artificial shelters, under simulated tidal conditions. Shelter complexity had little influence on the number of crabs under the pavers although crabs were more active when submerged in water than exposed to air. These results show that crab density increases as habitat complexity increases, and complexity may serve as a predictor of H. sanguineus density but not short-term behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary W. Towne
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Dartmouth, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Michael L. Judge
- Department of Biology, Manhattan College, Riverdale, New York, United States
| | - Nancy J. O’Connor
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Dartmouth, Massachusetts, United States
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Comba D, Palmer TA, Breaux NJ, Beseres Pollack J. Evaluating biodegradable alternatives to plastic mesh for small‐scale oyster reef restoration. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Devin Comba
- Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies Texas A&M University‐Corpus Christi Corpus Christi TX 78412 USA
| | - Terence A. Palmer
- Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies Texas A&M University‐Corpus Christi Corpus Christi TX 78412 USA
| | - Natasha J. Breaux
- Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies Texas A&M University‐Corpus Christi Corpus Christi TX 78412 USA
| | - Jennifer Beseres Pollack
- Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies Texas A&M University‐Corpus Christi Corpus Christi TX 78412 USA
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Estimation of Intertidal Oyster Reef Density Using Spectral and Structural Characteristics Derived from Unoccupied Aircraft Systems and Structure from Motion Photogrammetry. REMOTE SENSING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/rs14092163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are an important component of the ecology and economy in coastal zones. Through the long-term consolidation of densely clustered shells, oyster reefs generate three-dimensional and complex structures that yield a suite of ecosystem services, such as nursery habitat, stabilizing shorelines, regulating nutrients, and increasing biological diversity. The decline of global oyster habitat has been well documented and can be attributed to factors, such as overharvesting, pollution, and disease. Monitoring oyster reefs is necessary to evaluate persistence and track changes in habitat conditions but can be time and labor intensive. In this present study, spectral and structural metrics of intertidal oyster reefs derived from Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Structure from Motion (SfM) outputs are used to estimate intertidal oyster density. This workflow provides a remote, rapid, nondestructive, and potentially standardizable method to assess large-scale intertidal oyster reef density that will significantly improve management strategies to protect this important coastal resource from habitat degradation.
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Davenport TM, Grabowski JH, Hughes AR. Edge effects influence the composition and density of reef residents on subtidal restored oyster reefs. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Theresa M. Davenport
- Northeastern University Marine Science Center, 430 Nahant Rd. Nahant MA 01908 USA
| | | | - A. Randall Hughes
- Northeastern University Marine Science Center, 430 Nahant Rd. Nahant MA 01908 USA
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Influence of habitat complexity on the prey mortality in IGP system involving insect predators (Heteroptera) and prey (Diptera): Implications in biological control. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264840. [PMID: 35286333 PMCID: PMC8920208 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Intraguild predation (IGP) is common in the freshwater insect communities, involving a top predator, intraguild prey (IG prey) and a shared prey. Influence of the habitat complexity on the prey-predator interactions is well established through several studies. In the present instance, the IGP involving the heteropteran predators and the dipteran prey were assessed in the background of the habitat complexity. The three predators Diplonychus rusticus, Ranatra filiformis, and Laccotrephes griseus, one intraguild prey Anisops bouvieri and two dipteran prey Culex quinquefasciatus and Chironomus sp. were used in different relative density against the complex habitat conditions to deduce the impact on the mortality on the prey. In comparison to the open conditions, the presence of the macrophytes and pebbles reduced the mortality of the shared prey under intraguild system as well as single predator system. The mortality of the shared prey was however dependent on the density of the predator and prey. Considering the shared prey mortality, predation on mosquito larvae was always higher in single predator system than chironomid larvae irrespective of identity and density of predators. However, for both the shared prey, complexity of habitat reduced the prey vulnerability in comparison to the simple habitat condition. Higher observed prey consumption depicts the higher risk to predation of shared prey, though the values varied with habitat conditions. Mortality of IG prey (A. bouvieri) in IGP system followed the opposite trend of the shared prey. The lower mortality in simple habitat and higher mortality in complex habitat conditions was observed for the IG prey, irrespective of shared prey and predator density. In IGP system, the shared prey mortality was influenced by the habitat conditions, with more complex habitat reducing the vulnerability of the shared prey and increased mortality of the IG prey. This implies that the regulation of the mosquitoes, in the IGP system will be impeded by the habitat conditions, with the heteropteran predators as the top predator.
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8
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Walters K, Martin CW, Funk TS. Differences in resident prey survival on newly created shell and established natural intertidal oyster reefs. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Keith Walters
- Department of Marine Science Coastal Carolina University Conway SC 29528
| | - Charles W. Martin
- UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station University of Florida P.O. Box 878 Cedar Key FL 32625
| | - Thomas S. Funk
- San Marcos Aquatic Resources Center, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 500 E. McCarty Ln San Marcos TX 78666
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Klug PE, Adams AAY, Siers SR, Brindock KM, Mosher SM, Mazurek MJ, Pitt WC, Reed RN. Locally abundant, endangered Mariana swiftlets impact the abundance, behavior, and body condition of an invasive predator. Oecologia 2021; 195:1083-1097. [PMID: 33683442 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04876-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Invasive predators are known to have negative consumptive and non-consumptive effects on native species, but few examples show how the abundance of native prey may influence an established invasive predator. We compared invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis; BTS) found in caves occupied by endangered Mariana swiftlets (Aerodramus bartschi) to snakes found in nearby forests and caves without birds to quantify how the abundance of native avian prey impacts BTS abundance and behavior on Guam. From 2011 to 2017 we removed 151 BTS in caves occupied by swiftlets and never observed BTS in caves without birds. Notable locations included snakes foraging near swiftlets and in holes that allowed cave access and escape from capture. Of 43 BTS with gut contents, 27 (63%) contained swiftlets. BTS in swiftlet-occupied caves had greater fat mass compared to forests, indicating access to swiftlets may increase body condition and promote reproduction. Number of ovarian follicles was significantly greater in female snakes from swiftlet-occupied caves compared to those from ravine, but not limestone forests; evidence of male BTS being more capable of reproduction was limited (i.e., fewer non-discernible but not significantly larger testes in snakes from caves). Assuming other limiting factors are considered, altering the functional response of predators through the modification of caves or interdiction lures to exclude or hinder the largest BTS could bolster swiftlet populations by increasing nesting refugia in currently-occupied caves and facilitate recolonization of historical caves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Page E Klug
- U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA. .,U.S. Department of Agriculture APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, North Dakota State University, Biological Sciences Dept. 2715, P.O. Box 6050, Fargo, ND, 58108, USA.
| | - Amy A Yackel Adams
- U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA
| | - Shane R Siers
- U.S. Department of Agriculture APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, 233 Pangelinan Way, Barrigada, GU, 96913, USA
| | - Kevin M Brindock
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Regional Office, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Honolulu, HI, 96818, USA
| | - Stephen M Mosher
- U.S. Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Marianas, FPO AP, PSC 455, Box 195, Santa Rita, GU, 96540, USA
| | - M J Mazurek
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Office, 300 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI, 96850, USA
| | - William C Pitt
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA
| | - Robert N Reed
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, Building 344, Hawai'i National Park, HI, 96718, USA
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10
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Changes in motile benthic faunal community structure following large-scale oyster reef restoration in a subtropical estuary. FOOD WEBS 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2020.e00177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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11
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Monroy-Velázquez LV, Rodríguez-Martínez RE, Blanchon P, Alvarez F. The use of artificial substrate units to improve inventories of cryptic crustacean species on Caribbean coral reefs. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10389. [PMID: 33282560 PMCID: PMC7690294 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Motile cryptofauna inhabiting coral reefs are complex assemblages that utilize the space available among dead coral stands and the surrounding coral rubble substrate. They comprise a group of organisms largely overlooked in biodiversity estimates because they are hard to collect and identify, and their collection causes disturbance that is unsustainable in light of widespread reef degradation. Artificial substrate units (ASUs) provide a better sampling alternative and have the potential to enhance biodiversity estimates. The present study examines the effectiveness of ASUs made with defaunated coral rubble to estimate the diversity of motile cryptic crustaceans in the back-reef zone of the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park, Mexico. Species richness, Simpson’s diversity index, Shannon–Wiener index and the composition of assemblages were compared between ASUs and samples from the surrounding coral rubble substrate. A combined total of 2,740 specimens of 178 different species, belonging to five orders of Crustacea (Amphipoda, Cumacea, Isopoda, Tanaidacea and Decapoda) were collected. Species richness was higher in the surrounding coral rubble and Shannon–Wiener and Simpson indexes were higher in ASUs. Species composition differed between methods, with only 71 species being shared among sampling methods. Decapoda was more speciose in ASUs and Peracarids in the surrounding coral rubble. Combining the use of ASUs with surrounding rubble provided a better inventory of motile cryptic crustacean biodiversity, as 65% of the species were represented by one or two specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz Verónica Monroy-Velázquez
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Rosa E Rodríguez-Martínez
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Paul Blanchon
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Fernando Alvarez
- Colección Nacional de Crustáceos, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico City, México
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Gribben PE, Bishop MJ, O’Connor WA, Bradley DJ, Hughes AR. Intraspecific diversity in prey body size influences survivorship by conferring resistance to predation. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Paul E. Gribben
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales 2052 Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science 19 Chowder Bay Road Mosman New South Wales 2088 Australia
| | - Melanie J. Bishop
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales 2109 Australia
| | - Wayne A. O’Connor
- NSW Department of Primary Industries Nelson Bay New South Wales 2315 Australia
| | - Daniel J. Bradley
- School of Life Sciences University of Technology Sydney New South Wales 2007 Australia
| | - A. Randall Hughes
- Northeastern University Marine Science Centre 430 Nahant Raod Nahant Massachusetts 01908 USA
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13
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Effect of prey size and structural complexity on the functional response in a nematode- nematode system. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5696. [PMID: 30952927 PMCID: PMC6451004 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42213-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The functional response of a predatory nematode and the influence of different prey sizes and habitat structure on the concerning parameters were analyzed. We hypothesized that the handling of small prey would be less time-consuming, whereas feeding on larger prey would be more efficient. Therefore, type II functional response curves were expected for large prey and a trend towards type III curves for small prey. We expected the introduction of prey refuges to shift the functional response curves from hyperbolic to sigmoidal and that the effect would be even more pronounced with smaller prey. P. muscorum consumed large amounts of small and large C. elegans, with daily per capita ingestion of prey reaching a maximum of 19.8 µg fresh weight, which corresponds to 4.8 times the predator’s biomass. Regardless of prey size and habitat structure, P. muscorum exhibit a type III functional response. Overall, the allometric effect of prey size had a greater effect on the predator’s functional response than did the addition of substrate, presumably due to the similar body shape and mobility of the two nematode species. Our results demonstrate that individual factors such as feeding behavior are important determinants of functional responses and therefore of ecosystem stability.
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Norbury G, van Overmeire W. Low structural complexity of nonnative grassland habitat exposes prey to higher predation. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01830. [PMID: 30415475 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The structural complexity of vegetation can have profound effects on the hunting efficiency of predators, thereby affecting their intake rate of prey. While studies have shown that vegetation complexity can play an important role in managing unwanted impacts of predators, it is less clear how structural complexity of invasive vegetation affects the vulnerability of terrestrial prey. Short nonnative pasture species bred for agricultural production, for example, are highly invasive and pervade grassland ecosystems worldwide. They generally have low structural complexity compared with taller native vegetation they often displace. We conducted controlled experiments to test whether nonnative pastures expose fauna to greater predation risk. Survival of invertebrates (tethered locusts) subject to predation by invasive mammalian insectivores (European hedgehogs) in nonnative pasture (0.10 per 24 h; 95% CI, 0.08-0.13) was less than one-half that in structurally complex native perennial tussock (bunch) grass (0.24; 95% binomial CI, 0.18-0.31). A significant positive relationship was apparent between structural complexity (grass dry stem density) surrounding each locust and their survival. In a second experiment, survival of locusts placed solely in tussock increased with decreasing locust density in tussock, presumably reflecting fewer resource-rich patches on which predators could focus. These results demonstrate that invasion by structurally simple nonnative vegetation exposes prey to greater risk of predation. This is concerning from a global nature conservation perspective given that conversion of nearly one-half of the world's temperate grasslands to agriculture includes a range of invasive, structurally simple, nonnative, plant species. Minimizing invasion and maintaining and restoring complex habitat structure may be a useful conservation option for reducing unwanted predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant Norbury
- Landcare Research, P.O. Box 282, Alexandra, New Zealand
| | - Wouter van Overmeire
- HAS University of Applied Sciences, Onderwijsboulevard 221, 5223 DE, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
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15
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De Santiago K, Palmer TA, Dumesnil M, Pollack JB. Rapid development of a restored oyster reef facilitates habitat provision for estuarine fauna. Restor Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin De Santiago
- Department of Life Sciences; Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi; 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5860, Corpus Christi TX 78412-5860 U.S.A
| | - Terence A. Palmer
- Department of Life Sciences; Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi; 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5860, Corpus Christi TX 78412-5860 U.S.A
- Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies; Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi; 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5860, Corpus Christi TX 78412-5860 U.S.A
| | - Mark Dumesnil
- The Nature Conservancy; Corpus Christi TX 78401 U.S.A
| | - Jennifer B. Pollack
- Department of Life Sciences; Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi; 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5860, Corpus Christi TX 78412-5860 U.S.A
- Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies; Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi; 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5860, Corpus Christi TX 78412-5860 U.S.A
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16
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Bertolini C, Montgomery WI, O’Connor NE. Habitat with small inter-structural spaces promotes mussel survival and reef generation. MARINE BIOLOGY 2018; 165:163. [PMID: 30363846 PMCID: PMC6182589 DOI: 10.1007/s00227-018-3426-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Spatially complex habitats provide refuge for prey and mediate many predator-prey interactions. Increasing anthropogenic pressures are eroding such habitats, reducing their complexity and potentially altering ecosystem stability on a global scale. Yet, we have only a rudimentary understanding of how structurally complex habitats create ecological refuges for most ecosystems. Better informed management decisions require an understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the provision of physical refuge and this may be linked to prey size, predator size and predator identity in priority habitats. We tested each of these factors empirically in a model biogenic reef system. Specifically, we tested whether mortality rates of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) of different sizes differed among: (i) different forms of reef structural distribution (represented as 'clumped', 'patchy' and 'sparse'); (ii) predator species identity (shore crab, Carcinus maenas and starfish, Asterias rubens); and (iii) predator size. The survival rate of small mussels was greatest in the clumped experimental habitat and larger predators generally consumed more prey regardless of the structural organisation of treatment. Small mussels were protected from larger A. rubens but not from larger C. maenas in the clumped habitats. The distribution pattern of structural objects, therefore, may be considered a useful proxy for reef complexity when assessing predator-prey interactions, and optimal organisations should be considered based on both prey and predator sizes. These findings are essential to understand ecological processes underpinning predation rates in structurally complex habitats and to inform future restoration and ecological engineering practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Bertolini
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University of Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL Northern Ireland, UK
- NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Utrecht University, PO Box 140, 4401 NT Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - W. I. Montgomery
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University of Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Nessa E. O’Connor
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University of Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL Northern Ireland, UK
- School of Natural Sciences, Zoology Building, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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17
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Blancher EC, Park RA, Clough JS, Milroy SP, Graham WM, Rakocinski CF, Hendon JR, Wiggert JD, Leaf R. Establishing nearshore marine secondary productivity baseline estimates for multiple habitats in coastal Mississippi and Alabama using AQUATOX 3.1 NME for use in the Deepwater Horizon natural resource damage assessment. Ecol Modell 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2017.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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18
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Bartolino V, Tian H, Bergström U, Jounela P, Aro E, Dieterich C, Meier HEM, Cardinale M, Bland B, Casini M. Spatio-temporal dynamics of a fish predator: Density-dependent and hydrographic effects on Baltic Sea cod population. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172004. [PMID: 28207804 PMCID: PMC5313222 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms of spatial population dynamics is crucial for the successful management of exploited species and ecosystems. However, the underlying mechanisms of spatial distribution are generally complex due to the concurrent forcing of both density-dependent species interactions and density-independent environmental factors. Despite the high economic value and central ecological importance of cod in the Baltic Sea, the drivers of its spatio-temporal population dynamics have not been analytically investigated so far. In this paper, we used an extensive trawl survey dataset in combination with environmental data to investigate the spatial dynamics of the distribution of the Eastern Baltic cod during the past three decades using Generalized Additive Models. The results showed that adult cod distribution was mainly affected by cod population size, and to a minor degree by small-scale hydrological factors and the extent of suitable reproductive areas. As population size decreases, the cod population concentrates to the southern part of the Baltic Sea, where the preferred more marine environment conditions are encountered. Using the fitted models, we predicted the Baltic cod distribution back to the 1970s and a temporal index of cod spatial occupation was developed. Our study will contribute to the management and conservation of this important resource and of the ecosystem where it occurs, by showing the forces shaping its spatial distribution and therefore the potential response of the population to future exploitation and environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Bartolino
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Marine Research, Lysekil, Sweden
| | - Huidong Tian
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Marine Research, Lysekil, Sweden
| | - Ulf Bergström
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Coastal Research, Öregrund, Sweden
| | - Pekka Jounela
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Turku, Finland
| | - Eero Aro
- Puolipäivänkatu 4 A 6, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Christian Dieterich
- Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Research Department, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - H. E. Markus Meier
- Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Research Department, Norrköping, Sweden
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Department of Physical Oceanography and Instrumentation, Rostock, Germany
| | - Massimiliano Cardinale
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Marine Research, Lysekil, Sweden
| | - Barbara Bland
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Marine Research, Lysekil, Sweden
| | - Michele Casini
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Marine Research, Lysekil, Sweden
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19
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Grof-Tisza P, LoPresti E, Heath SK, Karban R. Plant structural complexity and mechanical defenses mediate predator-prey interactions in an odonate-bird system. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:1650-1659. [PMID: 28261473 PMCID: PMC5330893 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Revised: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Habitat-forming species provide refuges for a variety of associating species; these refuges may mediate interactions between species differently depending on the functional traits of the habitat-forming species. We investigated refuge provisioning by plants with different functional traits for dragonfly and damselfly (Odonata: Anisoptera and Zygoptera) nymphs emerging from water bodies to molt into their adult stage. During this period, nymphs experience high levels of predation by birds. On the shores of a small pond, plants with mechanical defenses (e.g., thorns and prickles) and high structural complexity had higher abundances of odonate exuviae than nearby plants which lacked mechanical defenses and exhibited low structural complexity. To disentangle the relative effects of these two potentially important functional traits on nymph emergence-site preference and survival, we conducted two fully crossed factorial field experiments using artificial plants. Nymphs showed a strong preference for artificial plants with high structural complexity and to a lesser extent, mechanical defenses. Both functional traits increased nymph survival but through different mechanisms. We suggest that future investigations attempt to experimentally separate the elements contributing to structural complexity to elucidate the mechanistic underpinnings of refuge provisioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Grof-Tisza
- Department of Entomology and Nematology University of California Davis CA USA
| | - Eric LoPresti
- Department of Entomology and Nematology University of California Davis CA USA; Ecology Graduate Group University of California Davis CA USA
| | - Sacha K Heath
- Ecology Graduate Group University of California Davis CA USA; Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of California Davis CA USA
| | - Richard Karban
- Department of Entomology and Nematology University of California Davis CA USA
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20
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Hesterberg SG, Duckett CC, Salewski EA, Bell SS. Three-dimensional interstitial space mediates predator foraging success in different spatial arrangements. Ecology 2017; 98:1153-1162. [PMID: 28144935 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Identifying and quantifying the relevant properties of habitat structure that mediate predator-prey interactions remains a persistent challenge. Most previous studies investigate effects of structural density on trophic interactions and typically quantify refuge quality using one or two-dimensional metrics. Few consider spatial arrangement of components (i.e., orientation and shape) and often neglect to measure the total three-dimensional (3D) space available as refuge. This study tests whether the three-dimensionality of interstitial space, an attribute produced by the spatial arrangement of oyster (Crassostrea virginica) shells, impacts the foraging success of nektonic predators (primary blue crab, Callinectes sapidus) on mud crab prey (Eurypanopeus depressus) in field and mesocosm experiments. Interstices of 3D-printed shell mimics were manipulated by changing either their orientation (angle) or internal shape (crevice or channel). In both field and mesocosm experiments, under conditions of constant structural density, predator foraging success was influenced by 3D aspects of interstitial space. Proportional survivorship of tethered mud crabs differed significantly as 3D interstitial space varied by orientation, displaying decreasing prey survivorship as angle of orientation increased (0° = 0.76, 22.5° = 0.13, 45° = 0.0). Tethered prey survivorship was high when 3D interstitial space of mimics was modified by internal shape (crevice survivorship = 0.89, channel survivorship = 0.96) and these values did not differ significantly. In mesocosms, foraging success of blue crabs varied with 3D interstitial space as mean proportional survivorship (± SE) of mud crabs was significantly lower in 45° (0.27 ± 0.06) vs. 0° (0.86 ± 0.04) orientations and for crevice (0.52 ± 0.11) vs. channel shapes (0.95 ± 0.02). These results suggest that 3D aspects of interstitial space, which have direct relevance to refuge quality, can strongly influence foraging success in our oyster reef habitat. Our findings highlight the importance of spatial arrangement in mediating consumptive pathways in hard-structured habitats and demonstrate how quantifying the three-dimensionality of living space captures aspects of habitat structure that have been missing from previous empirical studies of trophic interactions and structural complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen G Hesterberg
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Ave, SCA 110, Tampa, Florida, 33620, USA
| | - C Cole Duckett
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Ave, SCA 110, Tampa, Florida, 33620, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Salewski
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Ave, SCA 110, Tampa, Florida, 33620, USA
| | - Susan S Bell
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Ave, SCA 110, Tampa, Florida, 33620, USA
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21
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Lovely CM, O'Connor NJ, Judge ML. Abundance of non-native crabs in intertidal habitats of New England with natural and artificial structure. PeerJ 2015; 3:e1246. [PMID: 26401456 PMCID: PMC4579033 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine habitats containing complex physical structure (e.g., crevices) can provide shelter from predation for benthic invertebrates. To examine effects of natural and artificial structure on the abundance of intertidal juvenile crabs, 2 experiments were conducted in Kingston Bay, Massachusetts, USA, from July to September, 2012. In the first experiment, structure was manipulated in a two-factor design that was placed in the high intertidal for 3 one-week periods to test for both substrate type (sand vs. rock) and the presence or absence of artificial structure (mesh grow-out bags used in aquaculture, ∼0.5 m2 with 62 mm2 mesh openings). The Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, and small individuals of the green crab, Carcinus maenas, were observed only in the treatments of rocks and mesh bag plus rocks. Most green crabs were small (<6 mm in carapace width) whereas H. sanguineus occurred in a wide range of sizes. In the second experiment, 3 levels of oyster-shell treatments were established using grow-out bags placed on a muddy sand substrate in the low intertidal zone: mesh grow-out bags without shells, grow-out bags with oyster shells, and grow-out bags containing live oysters. Replicate bags were deployed weekly for 7 weeks in a randomized complete block design. All crabs collected in the bags were juvenile C. maenas (1–15 mm carapace width), and numbers of crabs differed 6-fold among treatments, with most crabs present in bags with live oysters (29.5 ± 10.6 m−2 [mean ± S.D.]) and fewest in bags without shells (4.9 ± 3.7 m−2). Both C. maenas and H. sanguineus occurred in habitats with natural structure (cobble rocks). The attraction of juvenile C. maenas to artificial structure consisting of plastic mesh bags containing both oyster shells and living oysters could potentially impact oyster aquaculture operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Lovely
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth , N. Dartmouth, MA , USA
| | - Nancy J O'Connor
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth , N. Dartmouth, MA , USA
| | - Michael L Judge
- Department of Biology, Manhattan College , Riverdale, NY , USA
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Humphries AT, La Peyre MK. Oyster reef restoration supports increased nekton biomass and potential commercial fishery value. PeerJ 2015; 3:e1111. [PMID: 26336635 PMCID: PMC4556142 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 06/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Across the globe, discussions centered on the value of nature drive many conservation and restoration decisions. As a result, justification for management activities increasingly asks for two lines of evidence: (1) biological proof of augmented ecosystem function or service, and (2) monetary valuation of these services. For oyster reefs, which have seen significant global declines and increasing restoration work, the need to provide both biological and monetary evidence of reef services on a local-level has become more critical in a time of declining resources. Here, we quantified species biomass and potential commercial value of nekton collected from restored oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reefs in coastal Louisiana over a 3-year period, providing multiple snapshots of biomass support over time. Overall, and with little change over time, fish and invertebrate biomass is 212% greater at restored oyster reefs than mud-bottom, or 0.12 kg m−2. The additional biomass of commercial species is equivalent to an increase of local fisheries value by 226%, or $0.09 m−2. Understanding the ecosystem value of restoration projects, and how they interact with regional management priorities, is critical to inform local decision-making and provide testable predictions. Quantitative estimates of potential commercial fisheries enhancement by oyster reef restoration such as this one can be used directly by local managers to determine the expected return on investment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin T Humphries
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, AgCenter , Baton Rouge, LA , USA ; Atlantic Ecology Division, United States Environmental Protection Agency , Narragansett, RI , USA ; Current affiliation: College of the Environment and Life Sciences, University of Rhode Island , Kingston, RI , USA
| | - Megan K La Peyre
- United States Geological Survey, Louisiana Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Research Unit, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University AgCenter , Baton Rouge, LA , USA
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23
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Barrios‐O'Neill D, Dick JTA, Emmerson MC, Ricciardi A, MacIsaac HJ. Predator‐free space, functional responses and biological invasions. Funct Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Barrios‐O'Neill
- Institute for Global Food Security School of Biological Sciences Queen's University Belfast 97 Lisburn RoadBelfast BT9 7BL UK
| | - Jaimie T. A. Dick
- Institute for Global Food Security School of Biological Sciences Queen's University Belfast 97 Lisburn RoadBelfast BT9 7BL UK
| | - Mark C. Emmerson
- Institute for Global Food Security School of Biological Sciences Queen's University Belfast 97 Lisburn RoadBelfast BT9 7BL UK
| | - Anthony Ricciardi
- Redpath Museum McGill University 859 Sherbrooke Street WestMontreal QCH3AOC4 Canada
| | - Hugh J. MacIsaac
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research University of Windsor Windsor ONN9B 3P4 Canada
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24
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Wheeler HC, Hik DS. Giving-up densities and foraging behaviour indicate possible effects of shrub encroachment on arctic ground squirrels. Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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25
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Neuroendocrine changes upon exposure to predator odors. Physiol Behav 2014; 131:149-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.04.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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