2017 ESA Annual Meeting (August 6 -- 11)

PS 87-230 - Impact of diet on survival and reproduction of an aquatic, sessile predator

Friday, August 11, 2017
Exhibit Hall, Oregon Convention Center
Marcela Rivero Estens1, Elizabeth Preza1, Susana Sucedo Rios2 and Elizabeth J. Walsh3, (1)Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, (2)Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguas Calientes, Mexico, (3)Department of Biological Sciences & Bioinformatics Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Background/Question/Methods:

Prey availability often impacts predator survival and reproductive potential. Predatory relationships are fundamental for even the smallest of animals, including rotifers. Cupelopagis vorax (Rotifera; Atrochidae) is a sit-and-wait predator that is unique in its ability to detect vibrations produced by potential prey. Its predatory behavior has been categorized into rotation, encounter, attack, capture, and ingestion. First, capture efficiency of C. vorax was calculated for two prey: the rotifer Lepadella triba (R) and the gastrotrich Lepidodermella squamata (G). Second, we assess how prey type influences the survival and reproduction of C. vorax. In these experiments, the protist Paramecium multimicronucleatum (P) was included to have prey types with distinct sizes, swimming speeds, and structural defenses against predators. Single (R, G, or P) and mixed (RG, RP, GP, and RGP) prey treatments were tested.

 Results/Conclusions:

With L. triba as prey, 59.1% ± 0.1 of encounter events resulted in capture and 8.9 ± 1.1 prey were ingested per predator during 4-hr trials (n=15). In comparison, only 32.9% ± 0.04 of encounter events resulted in capture and 5.2 ± 0.86 prey were ingested per predator with L. squamata as the prey species. Using life table analyses, single prey treatments showed that a rotifer (R) diet resulted in longest life expectancies (7.5 ± 1.4 days), and highest net reproductive rates (Ro = 2.5 0.05). In comparison, the protist diet (P) showed the shortest lifespan (4.75 ± 0.5 days) and lowest reproductive rates (Ro = 0.4 ± 0.04) While, the gastrotrich diet (G) resulted in the longest mean generation time (T =5.46 ± 0.10 days). Mixed prey treatments showed that RG and RGP diets showed the highest life expectancies (10.6 ± 1.85 and 9.9 ± 1.29 days, respectively), and highest net reproductive rates (R o= 2.0 ± 0.03 and 1.72 ± 0.04, respectively). Our research shows the importance of capturing beneficial prey and the effects on reproductive and survival parameters. This study will increase our understanding of predator prey relationships within the littoral zone of aquatic communities and phylum Rotifera.