Davenport Jon M, Hossack Blake R, Lowe Winsor H
Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA,
Oecologia. 2014 Sep;176(1):149-55. doi: 10.1007/s00442-014-2996-5. Epub 2014 Jun 26.
Non-consumptive effects (NCEs) of predators on prey can be as strong as consumptive effects (CEs) and may be driven by numerous mechanisms, including predator characteristics. Previous work has highlighted the importance of predator characteristics in predicting NCEs, but has not addressed how complex life histories of prey could mediate predator NCEs. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare the effects of predator gape limitation (gape limited or not) and hunting mode (active or sit-and-pursue) on the activity, larval period, and size at metamorphosis of larval aquatic amphibians and invertebrates. Larval prey tended to reduce their activity and require more time to reach metamorphosis in the presence of all predator functional groups, but the responses did not differ from zero. Prey metamorphosed at smaller size in response to non-gape-limited, active predators, but counter to expectations, prey metamorphosed larger when confronted by non-gape-limited, sit-and-pursue predators. These results indicate NCEs on larval prey life history can be strongly influenced by predator functional characteristics. More broadly, our results suggest that understanding predator NCEs would benefit from greater consideration of how prey life history attributes mediate population and community-level outcomes.
捕食者对猎物的非消费性影响（NCEs）可能与消费性影响（CEs）一样强烈，并且可能由多种机制驱动，包括捕食者特征。先前的研究强调了捕食者特征在预测非消费性影响中的重要性，但尚未探讨猎物复杂的生活史如何调节捕食者的非消费性影响。我们进行了一项荟萃分析，以比较捕食者口裂限制（口裂受限或不受限）和狩猎模式（主动或坐等捕食）对水生两栖动物和无脊椎动物幼虫的活动、幼虫期以及变态时大小的影响。在所有捕食者功能组存在的情况下，幼虫猎物往往会降低其活动水平，并需要更多时间才能变态，但这些反应与零无差异。在面对非口裂受限的主动捕食者时，猎物变态时的体型较小，但与预期相反，当面对非口裂受限的坐等捕食者时，猎物变态时的体型较大。这些结果表明，捕食者功能特征会强烈影响对幼虫猎物生活史的非消费性影响。更广泛地说，我们的结果表明，了解捕食者的非消费性影响将受益于更多地考虑猎物生活史特征如何调节种群和群落水平的结果。
