scholarly journals Experimental duration and predator satiation levels systematically affect functional response parameters

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanheng Li ◽  
Björn C. Rall ◽  
Gregor Kalinkat

AbstractEmpirical feeding studies where density-dependent consumption rates are fitted to functional response models are often used to parametrize the interaction strengths in models of population or food-web dynamics. However, the relationship between functional response parameter estimates from short-term feeding studies and real-world, long-term, trophic interaction strengths remains largely untested. In a critical first step to address this void, we tested for systematic effects of experimental duration and predator satiation on the estimation of functional response parameters, namely attack rate and handling time. Analyzing a large data set covering a wide range of predator taxonomies and body sizes we show that attack rates decrease with increasing experimental duration, and that handling times of starved predators are consistently shorter than those of satiated predators. Therefore, both the experimental duration and the predator satiation level have a strong and systematic impact on the predictions of population dynamics and food-web stability. Our study highlights potential pitfalls at the intersection of empirical and theoretical applications of functional responses. We conclude our study with some practical suggestions how these implications should be addressed in the future to improve predictive abilities and realism in models of predator-prey interactions.

Author(s):  
Azadeh Farazmand ◽  
Masood Amir-Maafi

Abstract In this research, functional responses of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot preying on different Tetranychus urticae Koch nymphal densities (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128) were studied at eight constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 27.5, 30, 32.5, 35 and 37.5°C) in a circular Petri dish (3-cm diameter × 1-cm height) under lab conditions. At all temperatures, the logistic regression showed a type II functional response. A nonlinear relationship was found between temperature and attack rate and the reciprocal of handling time. The reciprocal of handling time decreased exponentially with increasing temperature. In contrast, the attack rate grew rapidly with increasing temperatures up to an optimum, showing a decreasing trend at higher temperatures. In order to quantify the functional response of A. swirskii over a broad range of temperatures and to gain a better estimation of attack rate and handling time, a temperature-settled functional response equation was suited to our data. Our model showed that the number of prey consumed increased with rising prey density. Also, the predation rates increased with increasing temperatures but decreased at extremely high temperatures. Based on our model, the predation rate begins at the lower temperature threshold (11.73°C) and reaches its peak at upper temperature threshold (29.43°C). The coefficient of determination (R2) of the random predator model was 0.99 for all temperatures. The capability of A. swirskii to search and consume T. urticae over a wide range of temperatures makes it a good agent for natural control of T. urticae in greenhouses.


Author(s):  
Johan Lundberg

AbstractTheories of inter-jurisdictional tax and yardstick competition assume that the tax decisions of one jurisdiction will influence the tax decisions of other jurisdictions. This paper empirically addresses the issue of horizontal dependence in local personal income tax rates across jurisdictions. Based on a large data set covering Swedish municipalities over a period of 14 years, we test for interactions across municipalities that share a common border, across municipalities within a distance of 100 km of each other, and across municipalities with similar political representation in the local council. We also test the hypothesis that the tax rate of relatively larger municipalities has a greater influence on their neighbors' tax rate compared to the influence of their smaller neighbors. Our results suggest that when lagged tax rates are controlled for, the horizontal correlation across municipalities that share a common border or are within a distance of 100 km from each other becomes insignificant. This result is of importance as it suggests that lagged tax rates should be included or at least tested for when testing for horizontal interactions or mimicking in local tax rates. However, our results support the hypothesis of horizontal interactions across municipalities that share a common border when the influence of neighboring municipalities is also weighted by their relative population size, i.e. relatively larger neighbors tend to have a greater impact on their neighbor's tax rates than their relatively smaller neighbors. This is of importance as it suggests that distance or proximity matters, although only in combination with the relative population size. We also find some evidence of horizontal dependence across municipalities with similar political preferences.


2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 300-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gyles Glover

Since the start of the National Health Service, data have been collected on admissions to psychiatric in-patient units, first as the Mental Health Enquiry, then as part of Hospital Episode Statistics. Some details have changed but many have stayed remarkably consistent. Published literature on the wide range of research and policy work undertaken using this data source is reviewed. Early work was central to the government's deinstitutionalisation policy in the early 1960s. Subsequent studies cover a wide range of epidemiological and health services research issues. A new statistical base, the Mental Health Minimum Data Set, covering individuals receiving all types of health care is currently being set up. This will supplement (but not replace) admission statistics.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-228
Author(s):  
Baghdad Science Journal

This study evaluated the functional response of the larva of the predator Chrysoperla carnea by offering varying densities of cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) . Results showed conformity with type–II functional response, where the number of prey killed approaches asymptote hyperbolically as prey density increases (declining proportion of prey killed or the inverse density dependent) till it reached the stability stage determined by handling time and predator satiation. Also, the values of attack rate and handling time changed with age progress for both predator and prey. It has been observed an increase in the attack rate and reduction in handling time with the progress of the predator age when feeding on a particular nymphal instar. The attack rates of the predator was 1.779,3.406 and 4.219 ,while handling time was 0.015,0.010 and 0.008 (days) for 1st,2nd,3rd larval instars respectively, when fed on 1st nymphal instar. Also attack rates decreased and increases handling time with the progress in the prey. The attack rates were 1.779, 1.392, 1.096 and 1.059, due to an increase in size of the predator and in the growing efficiency in hunting the prey as well as in the increase in size of the prey and in developing its ability to defend itself and escape.


2020 ◽  
pp. 004728752095820
Author(s):  
Andrea Guizzardi ◽  
Marcello M. Mariani

This study introduces a new method, named Dynamic Destination Satisfaction Method (DDSME), to model tourists’ satisfaction with a destination (and its attributes), breaking it down into an individual-level component (linked to the specific individual tourists’ perceptions) and a system-level (time-related) component (common to all the tourists). Moreover, this work develops a matrix “entropy/trend accuracy” that destination managers can use to understand to what extent managing a specific attribute has increased tourists’ satisfaction with the destination over multiyear time spans. We test the innovative method on a large data set, covering the period 1997-2015 and including almost 0.8 million observations. By doing so, we analyze tourists’ satisfaction with tourism-related sectors and attributes of Italy as an inbound tourism destination and we use the matrix to map out destination attributes over time. The findings indicate that courtesy, art, and food are strategic attributes to enhance satisfaction in the long term.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Yu ◽  
Lizhi Zhou ◽  
Nazia Mahtab ◽  
Shaojun Fan ◽  
Yunwei Song

Perceiving how animals adjust their feeding rate under a variety of environmental conditions and understanding the tradeoffs in their foraging strategies are necessary for conservation. The Holling functional response, which describes the relationship of feeding rate and food density to searching rate and handling time, has been applied to a range of waterbirds, especially with regard to Type II functional responses that describe an increasing feeding rate with food density but at a decelerating rate as the curve approaches the asymptote. However, feeding behavior components (feeding rate, searching rate, and handling time) are influenced by factors besides prey density, such as vigilance and flock size. In this study, we aim to elucidate how Bewick’s swans (Cygnus columbianus bewickii) adopt flexible foraging strategies and vary their feeding behavior components in response to disturbance, flock size, and food density. We collected focal sampling data on the foraging behavior of swans that foraged rice grains, foxnut seeds, and tubers in paddy field, foxnut pond, and lake habitats, respectively, in Shengjin and Huangpi lakes during winter from 2016 to 2018. The observed feeding rate was not correlated with food density and displayed a positive relationship with searching rate but negative relationships with handling time, flock size, overall vigilance time, and disturbance time. Handling time was negatively correlated with food density and flock size, yet it increased with disturbance, overall vigilance time, and normal vigilance time. Searching rate was negatively correlated with food density, flock size, and disturbance time. Feeding rate was affected by the combined effects of handling time and searching rate, as well as food density and searching rate. The shape of the observed functional response could not be fitted to Holling’s disc equation. However, the disc equation of the predicted feeding rate of wintering swans was found to be driven by food density. This provides insight into how wintering waterbirds adopt appropriate foraging strategies in response to complicated environmental factors, which has implications for wildlife conservation and habitat management.


1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Boutin

Fluctuating populations of small mammals provide an excellent opportunity to study the functional and numerical responses of predators because of the wide range in prey density that occurs. I reinterpret data from six studies that have examined the role of predation in the population dynamics of voles in California, southern Sweden and western Finland, of snowshoe hares in northern Canada, and of house mice and rabbits in Australia. Most studies have measured functional responses by relying on changes in diet as reflected by scat or stomach contents. These methods are probably biased toward showing predator satiation. Contrary to previous conclusions I find that there is little evidence for non-linear (Type 111) functional-response curves or predator satiation at high prey densities. Recent studies indicate that the functional and numerical responses of predators can be rapid and strong enough to initiate cyclic declines, dampen fluctuations, or even cause stable numbers. The exception to this appears to be the irruptions of mice and rabbits in Australia. I propose a general explanation for the role of predation whereby the effect of predation is largely dependent on the entire prey community. When potentially cyclic prey are a small component of the overall prey biomass, generalist predators are able to prevent fluctuations by strong functional or numerical responses. As the prey community becomes dominated by a few species that fluctuate, limit cycles predominate. Limit cycles turn into irruptive population dynamics when seasonal prey reproduction is eliminated because of extended periods of vegetation growth (vegetation flushes following drought). In the future we must test assumptions underlying the way we study predation by telemetric monitoring of prey mortality and by experimentally manipulating predation.


2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 127-153
Author(s):  
Glenn Sandström ◽  
Magnus Strömgren ◽  
Olof Stjernström

During the 1960s in Sweden, socioeconomic differentials decreased sharply and both the labor force participation of married women and aggregate divorce rates increased more rapidly than during any other period of the twentieth century. The aim of this paper is to investigate how the socioeconomic composition of the couple influenced the probability of divorce during this period of rapid restructuring. The study uses a large data set covering the entire married population of Sweden in 1960 and applies a binary model whereby the couples are analyzed as units rather than separate individuals to model divorce during the period from 1960 to1965. The main results show that the equalization process between genders and social classes during this period contributed to the decrease in marital stability. Dual-provider families exhibit substantially higher probabilities of divorce as compared to traditional single-provider families. We also find that the socioeconomic gradient of divorce had become negative by the early 1960s and that couples with low socioeconomic status contributed more to the increase in divorce than did couples in the higher strata. A difference between the results reached in this study and those from divorce research covering later decades is that children do not reduce the probability of divorce when the wife's labor force participation is controlled for. The results indicate that the determinants of divorce have varied across different phases of the divorce transition during the twentieth century and that a historical perspective is necessary if we are to understand the long-term process that has produced current marital behavior.


Acarologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-39
Author(s):  
Fereshteh Bazgir ◽  
Jahanshir Shakarami ◽  
Shahriar Jafari

Eotetranychus frosti and Cenopalpus irani Dosse are pests of apple trees that are widely distributed in apple orchards in Iran. The functional responses and predation rates of Amblyseius swirskii, one of the most commonly utilized phytoseiid mites for biological control, on these two pests were evaluated at 25 ± 1 °C, with 16:8 h L: D, and a relative humidity of 60 ± 10 % on apple leaves. The results of predation rate experiments on the two prey species indicated that the predator consumed significantly more eggs than larvae and protonymphs whereas consumption of deutonymphs were very rare. Likewise, the results of logistic regression analysis showed that A. swirskii exhibited a Type II functional response on all immature stages of E. frosti and C. irani. Handling time (Th) increased as prey size enlarged; the lowest handling times were determined as 0.4858 and 0.3819 h on eggs of E. frosti and C. irani, respectively, whereas the highest were found to be 1.4007 and 1.0190 h on deutonymphs, respectively. Amblyseius swirskii had the higher attack rate coefficient (α) on immature stages of C. irani than E. frosti. Attack rate coefficients (α) varied significantly between life stages of both pests with the highest attack rate obtained on eggs, followed by larvae, protonymphs, and deutonymphs. Results of this study suggest that A. swirskii could be a highly efficient biological control agent of E. frosti and C. irani at least at low prey densities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
I WAYAN DIRGAYANA ◽  
I WAYAN SUPARTHA ◽  
I NYOMAN WIJAYA

Predation and Functional Response Test of Predator Chysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Crysopidae) Against Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). This study aims to evaluate the predatory capacity of C. carnea by measuring the rate of searching capacity and handling-time of one prey and its functional response to the population density of P. manihoti. The research was conducted at the Integrated Pest Management Laboratory (IPMLab), Faculty of Agriculture, Udayana University. The study was conducted from February to May 2019. Testing of functional responses used a randomized block design with 5 treatments (3, 6, 9, 12, 15 nymphs-3) each of which was repeated 10 times. The results showed that the prey searching-capacity when the population was low (3 nymphs-3) took longer (10.37 minutes), while when the population was high it took a short time (6.23 minutes). The length of time for handling one prey in the low population was 6.08 minutes, while in the high population it was 5.48 minutes. Predator C. carnea has a tpe-2 functional response to an increase in the population of P. manihoti nymphs with the equation Y = 4.32x / 1 + 1.973x (R2 = 0.980). The rate of predation increases sharply when the population of low increases, and decreases when the increase of prey population increases. C. carnea has the potential to be developed as a control agent for P. manihoti.


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