Peer Review #1 of "Functional responses of male and female European green crabs suggest potential sex-specific impacts of invasion (v0.1)"

Published: June 2, 2023

Predicting the impacts of predatory invasive species is important for prioritising conservation interventions.Functional response experiments, which examine consumption by predators in relation to prey density, are a useful way assess potential strength novel predator-prey relationships.However, such experiments often conducted without consideration sex or only with males reduce invasion risk.Here, we compared functional responses male and female European green crabs (Carcinus maenas), global invader, feeding on varnish clams (Nuttallia obscurata) test whether two sexes have similar impact.We also examined correlates predation behaviour measuring sex-specific movement choice.Both displayed Type II hyperbolic response, can destabilise populations at low densities.However, females exhibited some differences foraging behaviour.Female had slightly lower attack rates, were not linked movement, longer handling times, choice.These small, non-significant nevertheless translated into significantly greater ratios, used predict ecological impact species, than females.There was no difference proportion consumed between crusher claw heights, but smaller claws average, hence they clams.Repeated surveys four established British Columbia, Canada, showed that ratio highly variable.Taken together, these results population-level modelling suggest trying evaluate clam sampling could result overestimation, even male-biased sex-ratios.Consumer might generally be an feature consider when using forecast new especially those marked sexual dimorphism affect foraging.

Language: Английский

Peer Review #3 of "Functional responses of male and female European green crabs suggest potential sex-specific impacts of invasion (v0.2)"

Published: June 2, 2023

Predicting the impacts of predatory invasive species is important for prioritising conservation interventions.Functional response experiments, which examine consumption by predators in relation to prey density, are a useful way assess potential strength novel predator-prey relationships.However, such experiments often conducted without consideration sex or only with males reduce invasion risk.Here, we compared functional responses male and female European green crabs (Carcinus maenas), global invader, feeding on varnish clams (Nuttallia obscurata) test whether two sexes have similar impact.We also examined correlates predation behaviour measuring sex-specific movement choice.Both displayed Type II hyperbolic response, can destabilise populations at low densities.However, females exhibited some differences foraging behaviour.Female had slightly lower attack rates, were not linked movement, longer handling times, choice.These small, non-significant nevertheless translated into significantly greater ratios, used predict ecological impact species, than females.There was no difference proportion consumed between crusher claw heights, but smaller claws average, hence they clams.Repeated surveys four established British Columbia, Canada, showed that ratio highly variable.Taken together, these results population-level modelling suggest trying evaluate clam sampling could result overestimation, even male-biased sex-ratios.Consumer might generally be an feature consider when using forecast new especially those marked sexual dimorphism affect foraging.

Language: Английский

Towards understanding interactions in a complex world: Design and analysis of multi-species functional response experiments

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 19, 2023

Abstract The functional response describes feeding rates of consumers as a function resource density. While models for on single species are well studied and supported by large body empirical research, multiple ubiquitous in nature. However, laboratory experiments designed parameterizing multi-species responses (MSFR) extremely rare, mainly due to logistical challenges the non-trivial nature their statistical analysis. Here, we describe how these can be fitted data Bayesian framework. Specifically, address problem prey depletion during experiments, which accounted through dynamical modeling. In comprehensive simulation study, test effects experimental design, sample size noise level identifiability four distinct MSFR models. Additionally, demonstrate method’s versatility applying it list datasets. We identify designs trials that produce most accurate parameter estimates two- three-prey scenarios. Although introduces systematic bias estimates, model selection performs surprisingly MSFRs, almost always identifying correct even small This flexible framework allows simultaneous analysis from both single- multi-prey scenarios, either with or without depletion. will help elucidate mechanisms such selectivity, switching implications food web stability biodiversity. Our approach equips researchers appropriate tools improve understanding interactions complex ecosystems.

Language: Английский