Prey selection by a spider wasp, Batozonellus lacerticida (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae): Effects of seasonal variation in prey species, size and density

1994 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoji Endo ◽  
Akira Endo
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Prey Selection

PATTERNS OF GASTROPOD MOLLUSK PREDATION ON BIVALVE MOLLUSKS ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS GULF COAST

2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Serena J. Randolph ◽  
Alan D. Maccarone
Keyword(s):  
Shell Thickness ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Drill Hole ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hole Diameter ◽  
Bivalve Mollusks ◽  
Collection Site ◽  
Drill Holes

Abstract Predation on bivalve mollusks by gastropod mollusks is common in coastal regions of the United States; however, few previous studies have examined whether drilling gastropods exhibit prey selection. In 2016, shells with small holes drilled by as many as two gastropod predators were collected at three sites separated by 30 km along the Texas Upper Gulf Coast on the Bolivar Peninsula (29° 40′N, 94° 90′W). The likeliest predators in these waters are the southern oyster drill (Stramonita haemastoma Linnaeus 1767) and the moon snail (Neverita duplicate Say 1822). Collected shells were identified to species and measurements were taken to examine statistical relationships between predators and prey species. These measurements included drill-hole diameter, shell thickness, drill-hole completeness, number of drill attempts, and collection site. Across the three locations, 17 different species of shells with drill holes were collected; of these, we focused on the ten most abundant species (n = 277 shells). The sample showed high variation in drill-hole diameter, shell thickness, and drill-hole completeness. Both the total number of holes and mean drill-hole diameter differed significantly among prey species (ANOVA, both P < 0.0001). In addition, drill-hole diameter correlated directly with prey shell thickness (P < 0.0001). Shells whose drill holes were complete were significantly thinner than shells with incomplete holes (P < 0.0001). Mean prey shell thickness, mean drill-hole diameter, and mean number of drill holes all differed significantly by collection site (all P < 0.0001). Ecological and morphological implications related to gastropod predation on mollusks are discussed.

scholarly journals Prey species and prey selection of dholes at three different sites in Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
KHWANRUTAI CHARASPET ◽  
Ronglarp - Sukmasuang ◽  
NORASET KHOEWSREE ◽  
MANANYA PLA-ARD ◽  
YUWALUK CHANACHAI
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Wildlife Sanctuary ◽  
Khao Yai National Park ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract. Charaspet K, Sukmasuang R, Khoewsree N, Pla-ard M, Chanachai Y. 2020. Prey species and prey selection of dholes at three different sites in Thailand. Biodiversitas 21: 5248-5262. The study of prey species and prey selection of Dholes at 3 different sites was conducted at Khao Yai National Park, Salak Pra, and Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries from 2013 to 2020. Information on Dhole prey at the sites was collected from the residues of dhole scats, from which the selection index, the relative biomass of the prey, and the relative amounts of the consumed prey were calculated. The data were collected simultaneously with the use of camera traps at each site. The study revealed that there were 13 species of Dhole prey with body weight over 5 kg. The result indicated that there were 7 species of even-toed ungulates. The relative biomass of even-toed ungulates ranged between 76.78 - 90.50% of the total biomass of all the Dholes’ consumed prey for all study sites. The dietary diversity index unveiled a similar index in all areas, which proved the adequacy of the analyzed scats. However, the Niche breadth index, which indicates the relevance of prey selection and prey species to the appearances of the prey at each site, was found to be high at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Khao Yai National Park, while the index was found to be low at Salak Pra Wildlife Sanctuary. The results revealed that Dholes consumed viverrid species and Malayan porcupine more often at the site where there were large carnivores. The recommendation from this study was the conservation and restoration of the ungulate populations, the main prey, as it greatly affects the conservation of the Dhole populations in Thailand.  Grassland and salt lick sites, water sources improvements are also important to promote prey population. The conservation of wildlife prey by releasing them to nature, as currently conducted, has an effect on the increase of Dholes’ prey species.

scholarly journals Feeding Ecology of Short-Toed Snake-Eagle (Circaetus gallicus [Gmelin, 1788]) in the Montados of Iberian Peninsula

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-179
Author(s):  
Nuno Onofre ◽  
Luís Sampaio
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Prey Type ◽  
Generalist Predator ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Psammodromus Algirus ◽  
Circaetus Gallicus ◽  
Water Snakes

The diet of Short-toed Snake-eagle (Circaetus gallicus) during the breeding season in an area dominated by cork and holm oak parkland forests (Montados) was analyzed in this study. As expected, results showed that snakes are the dominant prey in the diet of this eagle, comprising up to 92.5% of the identified items, if potential secondary prey species were excluded. The Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) was the most consumed one (42.2%), followed by the Ladder Snake (Zamenis scalaris) (28.0%), and the water snakes (Natrix spp.) (14.2%). According to the same criteria, lizards (mainly Psammodromus algirus) and mammals represent between 4.8 and 2.2%, respectively. Other animals such as pond turtle and amphibians are irregular prey (<1%), and no bird remains were found at all. Short-toed Snake-eagle is usually referred as a stenophagic predator where snakes are by far its most important prey type, and where within this taxonomic group it behaves as a generalist predator. In this study this premise was then tested comparing the relative abundance of the snake species with their proportion in the diet composition of the eagle in order to know whether or not prey selection exists with regard to the species of snakes in this region. Results point to a quite plausible "preference" for the Ladder Snake and an "avoidance" for the smooth snakes group (Macroprotodon brevis/Coronella girondica), and possibly for the Horseshoe Whip (Hemorrhois hippocrepis). The avoidance to the Horseshoe Whip must be indirect and habitat related, while in relation to the two smooth snakes it may be due in large extend to its small size, in particular.

QUANTITATIVE AND SEASONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE PITCH CANKER FUNGUS, FUSARIUM SUBGLUTINANS F. SP. PINI WITH CONOPHTHORUS RADIATAE (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE) AND ERNOBIUS PUNCTULATUS (COLEOPTERA: ANOBIIDAE) WHICH INFEST PINUS RADIATA

1995 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelli Hoover ◽  
David L. Wood ◽  
Joseph W. Fox ◽  
William E. Bros
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Pinus Radiata ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Pitch Canker ◽  
Fusarium Subglutinans ◽  
Sticky Traps ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Late Instar

AbstractThe objective of this study was to determine the quantitative and seasonal association between the pitch canker fungus, Fusarium subglutinans f. sp. pini, and two potential beetle vectors, Conophthorus radiatae Hopkins and Ernobius punctulatus Fall. In samples of reared and dissected cones, 21.4 ± 2.5% of C. radiatae and 30.1 ± 8.0% of E. punctulatus adults carried propagules of F. s. pini. Seasonal variation in mean percentage of contaminated C. radiatae and E. punctulatus emerged from cones ranged from 0 to 67% and was highest for both species February through April. In sticky traps 12.5 ± 2.3% and 11.8 ± 3.6% of E. punctulatus and Pityophthorus spp., respectively, were contaminated with propagules of F. s. pini.Conophthorus radiatae and E. punctulatus co-occurred in 26% of the cones. The percentage of cones containing contaminated C. radiatae was greater when E. punctulatus progeny were also contaminated than when E. punctulatus was not. When contamination status of E. punctulatus was not considered, there was no significant difference in C. radiatae contamination between cones with and without E. punctulatus. Because C. radiatae appears to be a vector of the pitch canker fungus, interspecific transmission of inoculum may increase the incidence of this disease.The parasitoid, Cephalonomia utahensis Brues (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), was frequently observed parasitizing late-instar larvae of E. punctulatus, but was not found on larvae of C. radiatae. Emergence of large numbers of C. utahensis represents another potential source of inoculum for transmission to prey species.

Intrapopulation variation in the diet of franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) off southern Brazil

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Manuela Bassoi ◽  
Eduardo R. Secchi ◽  
Daniel Danilewicz ◽  
Ignacio B. Moreno ◽  
Roberta A. Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Brazilian Coast ◽  
Pontoporia Blainvillei ◽  
Franciscana Dolphin

Abstract The franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) is a coastal dolphin endemic to the western South Atlantic Ocean. The dolphin is listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, with incidental catches in gillnet fisheries the greatest conservation concern for this species. Insights into the feeding habits of this dolphin are essential to understand its distribution, movements and use of habitat, which are fundamental for effective management of the species. The feeding habits of franciscana dolphins were investigated from analyses of stomach contents of animals incidentally caught by two fishing operations from southern and northern regions of the southern Brazilian coast. In this study we investigate the existence of intrapopulation (sexual maturity and sex-related) variation in the diet of the franciscana dolphin, evaluating the spatial (northern and southern geographic areas) and seasonal influences. The analyses were based on Linear and Generalized Linear Models (LM and GLM). The majority of identified prey species were bottom-dwelling teleosts and the squid Doryteuthis sanpaulensis. The most important prey differed spatially and seasonally between northern and southern regions of the study area, and our results revealed significant differences between sexes and sexual maturity stages, mainly related to prey species sizes. This variation might indicate differences in prey selection, availability or habitat use patterns among these groups. In any case, these dietary differences are likely to minimize intraspecific competition for food resources, and/or indicate spatio-temporal variation in prey availability.

scholarly journals Prey selection by Bengal Tiger Panthera tigris tigris (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) of Chitwan National Park, Nepal

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (14) ◽  
pp. 8081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saneer Lamichhane ◽  
Bibhuti Ranjan Jha
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
National Park ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Panthera Tigris ◽  
Prey Composition ◽  
The Status ◽  
Panthera Tigris Tigris ◽  
Chitwan National Park

<p>Prey selection by tiger in Chitwan National Park, Nepal was studied from 77 tiger scats that contained the remains of principal prey species.  The scats were collected from January to March 2010.  Government reports on herbivore population in Chitwan provided the base data on density of principal prey species.  In order to understand prey selectivity, the observed proportion of prey species in the scats were compared with the expected proportion derived from density estimates.  The observed scat frequency of Sambar, Hog Deer and Wild Boar was found to be greater than the estimated frequency, and the reverse was true for Chital and Muntjac.  The average weight of the principal prey species killed was 84 kg. According to our results, Chital and Sambar constituted the bulk (82.07%), and Hog Deer, Wild Boar, and Muntjac constituted 17.93% of the tiger diet.  Sambar contributed the largest bulk (43.75%) of prey composition, but Chital constituted the relatively most killed (50.36%) prey species.  The present study makes a contribution to an understanding of the status of prey composition in tiger scat in Chitwan during the year 2010.  The study also highlights that both large and medium sized prey are important for the conservation of tiger in Chitwan National Park.</p><div> </div>

scholarly journals Humans disrupt access to prey for large African carnivores

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirby L Mills ◽  
Nyeema C Harris
Keyword(s):  
Prey Species ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Diel Activity ◽  
Spotted Hyena ◽  
Nocturnal Activity ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Human Presence ◽  
Prey Resources ◽  
Trophic Responses

Wildlife respond to human presence by adjusting their temporal niche, possibly modifying encounter rates among species and trophic dynamics that structure communities. We assessed wildlife diel activity responses to human presence and consequential changes in predator-prey overlap using 11,111 detections of 3 large carnivores and 11 ungulates across 21,430 camera trap-nights in West Africa. Over two-thirds of species exhibited diel responses to mainly diurnal human presence, with ungulate nocturnal activity increasing by 7.1%. Rather than traditional pairwise predator-prey diel comparisons, we considered spatiotemporally explicit predator access to several prey resources to evaluate community-level trophic responses to human presence. Although leopard prey access was not affected by humans, lion and spotted hyena access to three prey species significantly increased when prey increased their nocturnal activity to avoid humans. Human presence considerably influenced the composition of available prey, with implications for prey selection, demonstrating how humans perturb ecological processes via behavioral modifications.

scholarly journals Borrowing from Peter to pay Paul: managing threatened predators of endangered and declining prey species

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7916 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeke Davidson ◽  
Marc Dupuis-Desormeaux ◽  
Arjun Dheer ◽  
Laura Pratt ◽  
Elizabeth Preston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wildlife Management ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Species Survival ◽  
Scale Population ◽  
Credible Threat ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Grevy’S Zebra

Conservation policy and practice can sometimes run counter to their mutual aims of ensuring species survival. In Kenya, where threatened predators such as lion deplete endangered prey such as Grevy’s zebra, conservation practitioners seek to ensure species success through exclusive strategies of protection, population increase and preservation. We found strong selection for the endangered Grevy’s zebra by both lion and hyena on two small fenced conservancies in Kenya. Despite abundant diversity of available prey, Grevy’s zebra were selected disproportionately more than their availability, while other highly available species such as buffalo were avoided. Lions were therefore not alone in presenting a credible threat to Grevy’s zebra survival. Conservation practitioners must consider interlinked characteristics of prey selection, resource availability and quality, the interplay between carnivore guild members and landscape scale population trends performance in wildlife management decisions.

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