1. Gradients in predation risk in a tropical river system
- Author
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Faith A. M. Jones, Anne E. Magurran, Amy E. Deacon, European Research Council, University of St Andrews. School of Biology, University of St Andrews. Marine Alliance for Science & Technology Scotland, University of St Andrews. Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews. Institute of Behavioural and Neural Sciences, University of St Andrews. St Andrews Sustainability Institute, University of St Andrews. Fish Behaviour and Biodiversity Research Group, University of St Andrews. Centre for Research into Ecological & Environmental Modelling, and University of St Andrews. Centre for Biological Diversity
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,gradients ,Trinidadian guppy ,QH301 Biology ,Poecilia reticulata ,NDAS ,Trinidad ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Predation ,QH301 ,predation risk ,14. Life underwater ,Predator ,Guest Editors: Rüdiger Riesch, Martin Plath and David Bierbach ,Abundance currency ,Natural selection ,Ecology ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,Community structure ,Articles ,15. Life on land ,Geography ,Categorization ,Currency ,Special Column: Ecology and Evolution along Environmental Gradients ,Gradients ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Spatial variability ,Evolutionary ecology ,Predation risk ,abundance currency - Abstract
We are grateful for 2 European Research Council grants (BIOTIME 250189 and BioCHANGE 727440). The importance of predation risk as a key driver of evolutionary change is exemplified by the Northern Range in Trinidad, where research on guppies living in multiple parallel streams has provided invaluable insights into the process of evolution by natural selection. Although Trinidadian guppies are now a textbook example of evolution in action, studies have generally categorized predation as a dichotomous variable, representing high or low risk. Yet, ecologists appreciate that community structure and the attendant predation risk vary substantially over space and time. Here, we use data from a longitudinal study of fish assemblages at 16 different sites in the Northern Range to quantify temporal and spatial variation in predation risk. Specifically we ask: 1) Is there evidence for a gradient in predation risk? 2) Does the ranking of sites (by risk) change with the definition of the predator community (in terms of species composition and abundance currency), and 3) Are site rankings consistent over time? We find compelling evidence that sites lie along a continuum of risk. However, site rankings along this gradient depend on how predation is quantified in terms of the species considered to be predators and the abundance currency is used. Nonetheless, for a given categorization and currency, rankings are relatively consistent over time. Our study suggests that consideration of predation gradients will lead to a more nuanced understanding of the role of predation risk in behavioral and evolutionary ecology. It also emphasizes the need to justify and report the definition of predation risk being used. Publisher PDF
- Published
- 2018