Functional response analysis of size-selective predation by the notonectid predator Anisops deanei (Brooks) on Daphnia thomsoni (Sars)

1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 725 ◽  
Author(s):  
JG Reynolds ◽  
MC Geddes

The functional response of A. deanei to uncrested D. thomsoni was calculated by predation experiments in the laboratory. A. deanei produced typical type 11 functional response curves when presented with increasing densities of any given size-class of D. thomsoni Predation rates were highest for small size-classes and decreased for prey sizes above 2 mm In mixed-prey populations A deanet showed a greater preference towards the smaller, preferred prey than was predicted from the angle-prey-type expenments, thus demonstrating an exercise of choice by the predator. Crests developed by the smaller, preferred size-classes of D. thomsoni did not act as effective anti-predator mechanisms against A. deanei which may be able to remam an effective predator on crested populations of D. thomsonl.

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 611-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eldon S. Eveleigh ◽  
D. A. Chant

Experiments on the responses of two species of predacious phytoseiid mites, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Amblyseius degenerans, to their own density revealed that, with the exception of adult female P. persimilis, the individual predation rates of all instars of both species increased as predator and prey densities were increased within certain fixed predator to prey ratios. "Interference" between adult female P. persimilis was suggested as a possible reason for this result, and this was confirmed by the application of Hassell and Varley's model to data from an experiment where predator density was increased within various prey densities. Interference did not influence the predation rates for other instars of either species and other factors are considered to account for the results obtained.Increasing predator density caused the functional response of all instars of both species to increase over an increasingly wider range of prey densities. However, due to interference between adult female P. persimilis the functional response curves increased curvilinearly and reached plateaux at progressively lower levels of prey killed per predator as predator density increased. With the other instars of both species the responses became less curvilinear with increasing predator density, and trends in the data suggested that plateaux would be reached at similar levels of prey killed for different predator densities provided sufficient prey are present.


2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.L. Anderson ◽  
C. Linares ◽  
K.N. Dodson ◽  
R.D. Semlitsch

Predator species and body size represent critical factors that have differential effects on prey populations, as well as overall community structure. However, investigations of how morphologically-similar predator species, simultaneous to variation in predator body size, influence lower trophic levels are infrequently performed. We tested whether predator species and body size influenced the functional response curve of three larval ambystomatid salamanders (Ringed Salamander, Ambystoma annulatum Cope, 1886; Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum (Shaw, 1802); Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma opacum (Gravenhorst, 1807)) while eating congeneric prey. We combined larval salamanders of varying body sizes with up to six prey densities within experimental microcosms. We tested for the shape of the functional response curve and obtained parameter estimates for attack rate and handling time for each predator size – species combination. We found variability among both species and size classes, with a combination of type I and type II functional response curves. Large size classes of predators had higher attack rates than smaller size classes, but equivalently-sized larvae of different species exhibited differences in attack rates and handling time. Our study shows that predation risk varies depending on the size structure and diversity of predators present in a food web, and that grouping predators by either species or size class may reduce the ability to predict changes in community structure resulting from such interactions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 5256
Author(s):  
Daryoush Shafiei ◽  
Prof. Basavaiah*

In mulberry (Morus spp.), the process of selection of promising hybrids from F1 population requires the screening of a large number of progenies and a long period. To develop a simple and faster approach for screening, studies were conducted using F1 seeds of two crosses. The details of screening studies conducted in relation to seed-size and seedling-size are reported separately in two parts. In this part, the F1 seeds were size-graded as small, medium and large seeds; their progenies were raised separately and screened in nursery. There was a considerable degree of variation in size of seeds and medium-size class seeds were in high percentage in both the crosses. The length, width and weight of seeds were also varied between the seed size classes significantly in both the crosses. The seed size classes differ with high significance in shoot length and Root collar diameter and also differ significantly in root length and weight of seedlings. The positive correlation between the seed size and growth of seedlings, seed size and germination, seed size and seedling survival in nursery indicated that size-grading of seeds and rejection of small seeds in the beginning of screening process may help to increase the efficiency of screening by increasing the chances of getting superior hybrids from limited progenies. However, confirmation on the performance of large seedlings from small seed size class may help to draw conclusion. Hence, the studies are continued with size- grading of seedlings in the next part of screening study.


2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 787-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rainer Kurmayer ◽  
Guntram Christiansen ◽  
Ingrid Chorus

ABSTRACT The working hypotheses tested on a natural population of Microcystis sp. in Lake Wannsee (Berlin, Germany) were that (i) the varying abundance of microcystin-producing genotypes versus non-microcystin-producing genotypes is a key factor for microcystin net production and (ii) the occurrence of a gene for microcystin net production is related to colony morphology, particularly colony size. To test these hypotheses, samples were fractionated by colony size with a sieving procedure during the summer of 2000. Each colony size class was analyzed for cell numbers, the proportion of microcystin-producing genotypes, and microcystin concentrations. The smallest size class of Microcystis colonies (<50 μm) showed the lowest proportion of microcystin-producing genotypes, the highest proportion of non-microcystin-producing cells, and the lowest microcystin cell quotas (sum of microcystins RR, YR, LR, and WR). In contrast, the larger size classes of Microcystis colonies (>100 μm) showed the highest proportion of microcystin-producing genotypes, the lowest proportion of non-microcystin-producing cells, and the highest microcystin cell quotas. The microcystin net production rate was nearly one to one positively related to the population growth rate for the larger colony size classes (>100 μm); however, no relationship could be found for the smaller size classes. It was concluded that the variations found in microcystin net production between colony size classes are chiefly due to differences in genotype composition and that the microcystin net production in the lake is mainly influenced by the abundance of the larger (>100-μm) microcystin-producing colonies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 117693511774013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hien H Nguyen ◽  
Susan C Tilton ◽  
Christopher J Kemp ◽  
Mingzhou Song

The mechanistic basis by which the level of p27Kip1 expression influences tumor aggressiveness and patient mortality remains unclear. To elucidate the competing tumor-suppressing and oncogenic effects of p27Kip1 on gene expression in tumors, we analyzed the transcriptomes of squamous cell papilloma derived from Cdkn1b nullizygous, heterozygous, and wild-type mice. We developed a novel functional pathway analysis method capable of testing directional and nonmonotonic dose response. This analysis can reveal potential causal relationships that might have been missed by other nondirectional pathway analysis methods. Applying this method to capture dose-response curves in papilloma gene expression data, we show that several known cancer pathways are dominated by low-high-low gene expression responses to increasing p27 gene doses. The oncogene cyclin D1, whose expression is elevated at an intermediate p27 dose, is the most responsive gene shared by these cancer pathways. Therefore, intermediate levels of p27 may promote cellular processes favoring tumorigenesis—strikingly consistent with the dominance of heterozygous mutations in CDKN1B seen in human cancers. Our findings shed new light on regulatory mechanisms for both pro- and anti-tumorigenic roles of p27Kip1. Functional pathway dose-response analysis provides a unique opportunity to uncover nonmonotonic patterns in biological systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 2995-3005
Author(s):  
Hasbullah Syaf ◽  
Muhammad Albar Pattah ◽  
Laode Muhammad Harjoni Kilowasid

Earthworms (Pheretima sp.) could survive under abiotic stress soil conditions. Furthermore, their activities as ecosystem engineers allow for the creation of soil biostructures with new characteristics. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the abundance of Pheretima sp. on the aggregate size, physicochemistry, and biology of the topsoil from the nickel mining area of Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. It was carried out by first grouping their abundance into zero, two, four, six, and eight individuals per pot and then carrying out tests. The Pheretima sp. were then released onto the surface of the topsoil and mixed with biochar that was saturated with tap water in the pot overnight. The results showed that the abundance of the species had a significant effect on the size class distribution, and aggregate stability of the soil. Furthermore, the size of the soil aggregates formed was dominated by the size class 2.83 - 4.75 mm under both dry and wet conditions. Under dry conditions, three size classes were found, while under wet conditions, there were five size classes. The results also showed that the highest and lowest stability indexes occurred with zero and eight Pheretima sp., respectively. Furthermore, the abundance had a significant effect on pH, organic C, total N, CEC, and total nematodes. However, it had no significant effect on the total P, C/N ratio, total AMF spores, and flagellate. The highest soil pH occurred with zero Pheretima sp., while with six and two members of the species, the total nematode was at its highest and lowest populations, respectively. Therefore, it could be concluded that the species was able to create novel conditions in the topsoils at the nickel mining area that were suitable for various soil biota.


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (11) ◽  
pp. 1712
Author(s):  
L. Marszał ◽  
M. Grzybkowska ◽  
D. Błońska ◽  
J. Leszczyńska ◽  
M. Przybylski

The feeding habits of spirlin Alburnoides bipunctatus were investigated in a tributary of the River Vistula (Poland). To evaluate size-related patterns of resource use, fish were assigned to three size classes, defined according to size at first maturation: small (29–70-mm total length, TL), medium (71–90mm TL) and large (91–104mm TL). There was a significant ontogenetic shift in the feeding pattern among size classes, marked by differences in the proportion of the main taxonomic groups of prey consumed: small spirlin primarily consumed chironomid larvae, whereas medium and large spirlin showed a preference for Coleoptera, Ephemeroptera and imagines of unidentified insects. The proportion of prey taken from the water column was significantly lower for small- than medium- and large-sized spirlin. This difference was attributed to the benthic habits of small spirlin compared with medium and large spirlin. The shift to open water feeding in spirlin corresponded with sexual maturation, with habitat segregation between the smallest size class (comprising juveniles) and larger size classes (mature individuals). Size-specific changes in the diet composition of this species have not previously been documented.


1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 681 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Werner ◽  
S Flothmann ◽  
G Burnell

The moving behaviour of two species of abalone (H. tuberculata and H. discus hannai) on sand was studied in laboratory experiments with two size classes. Test animals of all experimental groups left solid substrata and moved across sand areas. The smaller size class (11-22 mm) was significantly less mobile than the larger size class (29-40 mm) in both species, and H. discus hannai showed higher mobility than did H. tuberculata. Lack of food was a significant incentive to move for both species and both size classes. For H. discus hannai, the stress of handling and exposure to the new environment caused increased movement that decreased as the animals acclimated. The significance of these findings for fisheries management and reseeding programmes is discussed, in particular as a possible explanation for the frequently reported 'unaccounted for' lost seed abalone.


1998 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-104
Author(s):  
Jeremy R. Young ◽  
Markus Geisen

Abstract. INTRODUCTIONBy far the most widely available computer programs for recording, manipulating, and displaying numerical data are spreadsheets, such as Microsoft Excel™ and Lotus 1-2-3™. These are powerful and flexible tools and for most workers this is an obvious way of recording micropalaeontological data. However, they have been primarily produced for business users and have limited abilities when it comes to plotting scientific graphs. This note describes some indirect but rapid methods, for using the standard graphing tools in such packages, to produce additional types of graphs of value to micropalaeontologists.STACKED HISTOGRAM CHARTSFigure 1 is a stacked histogram chart, produced in Microsoft Excel™. This type of diagram is useful, for instance, in displaying variations in size of a species between samples through a section. Stacked histogram charts are not directly supported by any spreadsheets that I have seen. As a result, they can usually only be produced by rather inefficient techniques. For example, making a separate chart for each sample and then combining them in a graphics program. The indirect approach used here is to separate each true data series with a mirror image padding data series, which is not displayed. The entire diagram is then plotted as a single chart. The steps for doing this are:(1) Enter the data (specimens per size class) in a spreadsheet (samples v. size classes).(2) Between each pair of data columns insert a column with equations which will calculate mirror image padding data. These will have the form C3 = . . .


1995 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven S. Seefeldt ◽  
Jens Erik Jensen ◽  
E. Patrick Fuerst

Dose-response studies are an important tool in weed science. The use of such studies has become especially prevalent following the widespread development of herbicide resistant weeds. In the past, analyses of dose-response studies have utilized various types of transformations and equations which can be validated with several statistical techniques. Most dose-response analysis methods 1) do not accurately describe data at the extremes of doses and 2) do not provide a proper statistical test for the difference(s) between two or more dose-response curves. Consequently, results of dose-response studies are analyzed and reported in a great variety of ways, and comparison of results among various researchers is not possible. The objective of this paper is to review the principles involved in dose-response research and explain the log-logistic analysis of herbicide dose-response relationships. In this paper the log-logistic model is illustrated using a nonlinear computer analysis of experimental data. The log-logistic model is an appropriate method for analyzing most dose-response studies. This model has been used widely and successfully in weed science for many years in Europe. The log-logistic model possesses several clear advantages over other analysis methods and the authors suggest that it should be widely adopted as a standard herbicide dose-response analysis method.


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