Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 104(3)
Published: Dec. 10, 2022
Abstract Historical resurveys of ecological communities are important for placing the structure modern ecosystems in context. Rarely, however, snapshot surveys alone sufficient providing direct insight into rates processes underlying community functioning, either now or past. In this study, I used a statistically reasoned observational approach to estimate feeding New Zealand intertidal predator, Haustrum haustorium , using diet performed at several sites by Robert Paine 1968–1969 and me 2004. Comparisons between time periods reveal remarkable consistency predator's prey‐specific rates, which contrasts with changes observed prey abundances, body‐size distribution, prey's proportional contributions apparent diet. Although these additional per‐capita attack seem show adaptive its preferences, they do not. Rather, feeding‐rate stability is an inherently statistical consequence high among‐prey variation handling times determine length that events will remain detectable observers performing surveys. Though understudied, similarly (or digestion) evident many predator species throughout animal kingdom. The resultant disconnect actual suggests much temporal, biogeographic, seemingly context‐dependent often perceived structure, diets, food‐web topology may be less functional than assumed. Qualitative pattern need not represent qualitative process.
Language: Английский