Functional Response of an Ambush Predator: Chaoborus americanus Predation on Daphnia pulex

Ecology ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 938-949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Spitze
Keyword(s):  
Functional Response ◽  
Daphnia Pulex ◽  
Ambush Predator ◽  
Chaoborus Americanus

Inter- and Intra-specific Variability in the Response of Zooplankton to Acid Stress

1985 ◽  
Vol 42 (11) ◽  
pp. 1749-1754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edmund E. Price ◽  
Michael C. Swift
Keyword(s):  
Natural Populations ◽  
Daphnia Pulex ◽  
Acid Stress ◽  
Intraspecific Variability ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Low Ph ◽  
Acid Sensitivity ◽  
Chaoborus Americanus ◽  
Acute Bioassays ◽  
Mesocyclops Edax

We measured the toxicity of sulfuric acid to natural populations of Daphnia pulex, D. galeata mendotae, Simocephalus serrulatus, Mesocyclops edax, Chaoborus americanus, and C. punctipennis. Organisms were collected in the spring and fall from acidic (pH 5.4) and circumneutral (pH 6.3–7.5) ponds, and their response to low pH was compared in 48- or 96-h acute bioassays. Based on 48- and 96-h LC50, cladocerans were most susceptible to acid stress, followed by Mesocyclops and Chaoborus larvae. Simocephalus was the most tolerant cladoceran, followed by D. pulex then D. galeata mendotae. Daphnia populations tested in the spring or early summer were more tolerant of low pH than those tested in the fall. Mesocyclops edax from an acid pond were more tolerant than those from a neutral pond. The response of the two Chaoborus species to low pH were quite similar; their 96-h LC50 (2.00, 2.09) was two pH units lower than those of cladocerans and one pH unit lower than that of M. edax. Our data demonstrate interspecific variability in acid sensitivity and suggest intraspecific variability due to habitat and season.

The impact of two Chaoborus species on a zooplankton community

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 981-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil A. MacKay ◽  
Stephen R. Carpenter ◽  
Patricia A. Soranno ◽  
Michael J. Vanni
Keyword(s):  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Daphnia Pulex ◽  
Zooplankton Community ◽  
Chlorophyll A Concentration ◽  
Chaoborus Flavicans ◽  
Chaoborus Americanus ◽  
Diaptomus Oregonensis ◽  
Herbivore Responses ◽  
The Impact

The responses of a zooplankton community to Chaoborus predation were studied in large in situ mesocosms in Peter Lake. Chaoborus flavicans, the native chaoborid, significantly reduced the density of the dominant grazer, Daphnia pulex, in relation to controls that lacked Chaoborus. Chaoborus americanus, a species found only in fishless bogs, reduced Da. pulex densities far more than the chaoborid found in Peter Lake, C. flavicans. Chaoborus americanus also significantly reduced the dominant copepod, Diaptomus oregonensis, in relation to both the control and the C. flavicans treatment. Chlorophyll a concentration did not differ among treatments, indicating that herbivore responses could not be explained by changes in food levels. Our results show that Chaoborus predation can greatly affect a zooplankton community, especially daphnids.

Vertical distributions and zooplankton predation in a small temperate pond

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (9) ◽  
pp. 1720-1725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy E. Melville ◽  
Edward J. Maly
Keyword(s):  
Daphnia Pulex ◽  
Predation Rate ◽  
Invertebrate Predation ◽  
Chaoborus Americanus ◽  
Vertical Distributions ◽  
Zooplankton Communities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Predation Rates

Depth-specific sampling in a small Quebec pond between April and October 1977 revealed that instars of Daphnia pulex less than 1.41 mm in length and instars of Diaptomus leptopus greater than 0.64 mm in length consistently had vertical distributions which were different from those of late instars of their predator Chaoborus americanus. Experiments were done to determine to what extent these distributions affected the rate of predation by Chaoborus. Vertical and horizontal 25-L enclosures, 1.4 m long, and 2.5-L enclosures, all containing Chaoborus–prey pairs, were introduced into a pond for 3-day periods weekly from July to September. Predation rates in vertical enclosures were considerably lower than those in small and horizontal enclosures. These results suggest that distributions of Diaptomus and Daphnia in vertical enclosures significantly reduce predation on them by Chaoborus. In horizontal and small enclosures where overlap of predator and prey was increased, predation rate of Chaoborus was higher. Results are discussed in relation to the impact of invertebrate predation on zooplankton and the structure of zooplankton communities.

Larval Mosquitoes as Vulnerable Prey: Chaoborus Predation

1989 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 1642-1650 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Helgen
Keyword(s):  
Daphnia Pulex ◽  
Choice Experiments ◽  
Distinct Difference ◽  
Prey Choice ◽  
Temporary Wetlands ◽  
Aedes Vexans ◽  
Selective Force ◽  
Chaoborus Americanus ◽  
Predation Rates

The vulnerability of instar I and II larvae of the mosquito Aedes vexans as prey for Chaoborus americanus is much greater than that of the small coexisting prey, Daphnia pulex. Predation on Aedes larvae could reduce Aedes populations in overlapping habitats, and be a selective force in driving Aedes to lay eggs in muds of more temporary wetlands. Predation rates are great (7–25∙d−1) and ingestion times are rapid (0.8–6 s) on Aedes instars I and II. In prey choice experiments, Chaoborus strongly prefers Aedes I over small Daphnia. An Aedes diet promotes growth of Chaoborus at least as well as a Daphnia diet. Larval Aedes behaviors show a distinct difference between the first two and last two instars. Aedes swimming speeds and swimming distances increase with each instar, but when disturbed, the first two instars significantly reduce their swimming distances. Calculated prey vulnerabilities, based on swimming speeds and reciprocal ingestion times, suggest a much greater vulnerability for Aedes I and II than that for small (0.8 mm) Daphnia or for Aedes III and IV (4.6–6.2 mm).

scholarly journals Changes in water chemistry can disable plankton prey defenses

2012 ◽  
Vol 109 (38) ◽  
pp. 15377-15382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard P. Riessen ◽  
Robert Dallas Linley ◽  
Ianina Altshuler ◽  
Max Rabus ◽  
Thomas Söllradl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Daphnia Pulex ◽  
Water Flea ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Defensive Responses ◽  
Chaoborus Americanus ◽  
Low Calcium ◽  
Softwater Lakes ◽  
Prey Defenses ◽  
Phantom Midge

The effectiveness of antipredator defenses is greatly influenced by the environment in which an organism lives. In aquatic ecosystems, the chemical composition of the water itself may play an important role in the outcome of predator–prey interactions by altering the ability of prey to detect predators or to implement defensive responses once the predator’s presence is perceived. Here, we demonstrate that low calcium concentrations (<1.5 mg/L) that are found in many softwater lakes and ponds disable the ability of the water flea, Daphnia pulex to respond effectively to its predator, larvae of the phantom midge, Chaoborus americanus. This low-calcium environment prevents development of the prey’s normal array of induced defenses, which include an increase in body size, formation of neck spines, and strengthening of the carapace. We estimate that this inability to access these otherwise effective defenses results in a 50–186% increase in the vulnerability of the smaller juvenile instars of Daphnia, the stages most susceptible to Chaoborus predation. Such a change likely contributes to the observed lack of success of daphniids in most low-calcium freshwater environments, and will speed the loss of these important zooplankton in lakes where calcium levels are in decline.

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