Adult Prey Neutralizes Predator Nonconsumptive Limitation of Prey Recruitment

PLoS One. 2016 Apr 28;11(4):e0154572. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154572. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that predator chemical cues can limit prey demographic rates such as recruitment. For instance, barnacle pelagic larvae reduce settlement where predatory dogwhelk cues are detected, thereby limiting benthic recruitment. However, adult barnacles attract conspecific larvae through chemical and visual cues, aiding larvae to find suitable habitat for development. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that the presence of adult barnacles (Semibalanus balanoides) can neutralize dogwhelk (Nucella lapillus) nonconsumptive effects on barnacle recruitment. We did a field experiment in Atlantic Canada during the 2012 and 2013 barnacle recruitment seasons (May-June). We manipulated the presence of dogwhelks (without allowing them to physically contact barnacles) and adult barnacles in cages established in rocky intertidal habitats. At the end of both recruitment seasons, we measured barnacle recruit density on tiles kept inside the cages. Without adult barnacles, the nearby presence of dogwhelks limited barnacle recruitment by 51%. However, the presence of adult barnacles increased barnacle recruitment by 44% and neutralized dogwhelk nonconsumptive effects on barnacle recruitment, as recruit density was unaffected by dogwhelk presence. For species from several invertebrate phyla, benthic adult organisms attract conspecific pelagic larvae. Thus, adult prey might commonly constitute a key factor preventing negative predator nonconsumptive effects on prey recruitment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Canada
  • Cues*
  • Ecosystem
  • Food Chain
  • Larva / physiology*
  • Nova Scotia
  • Population Density
  • Predatory Behavior*
  • Snails / physiology*
  • Thoracica / physiology*

Grants and funding

Research was funded through grants by Canada Research Chairs (grant number: 210283, http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx), the Canada Foundation for Innovation (grant number: 202034, http://www.innovation.ca/) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (grant number: 311624, http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/index_eng.asp) received by RAS. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.