The effect of density and mutual interference by a Predator: A laboratory study of predation by the Nudibranch Coryphella rufibranchialis on the hydroid Tubularia larynx

Autor:	Ivan Valiela, Patricia MacLeod
Rok vydání:	1975
Předmět:	biology Ecology Hydroid (zoology) Nudibranch Aquatic Science Tubularia Coryphella biology.organism_classification Predator Predation
Zdroj:	Hydrobiologia. 47:339-346
ISSN:	1573-5117 0018-8158
DOI:	10.1007/bf00039581
Popis:	The nudibranch Coryphella rufibranchialis (JOHNSTON) feeds on a variety of hydroids, including Tubularia larynx Ellis & Solander. Experiments in which density of prey and predators were altered showed that more prey were eaten as prey density increased. However, more prey were consumed at low predator densities, presumably because of mutual interference among nudibranchs at the higher predator densities. The number of prey consumed per nudibranch was maximal with low predator densities and a ratio of 25–50 polyps per predator. Coryphella seems to show an opportunistic feeding strategy involving solitary predators rapidly depleting hydroid colonies and moving on to new colonies.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::3e3a402bde8b8fb6727aea68b7d645c5 https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00039581 Zobrazit plný text záznamu Full text from SpringerLink