predation ecology 3500 university of georgia

efine consumptive effect of predation, using examples to support your understanding 2. Define non-consumptive effects of predation, using examples to support your understanding 3. Relate changes in consumptive and non-consumptive effects to cycles of predator and prey populations 4. Explain how and why predator and prey populations effect each other 5. Predict how prey populations fluctuate in regular cycles, through the lotka-volterra model 6. Predict how predator populations fluctuate in regular cycles through the lotka-volterra model 7. Understand why predators' capture efficiency of prey often differs from the simplified lotka-volterra model, and describe the 3 types of responses 8. Describe various types of anti-predator defenses in prey species and give examples of each

What are consumptive effects of predation?

Effects that occur when predators kill prey, directly limiting prey population sizes.

What are non-consumptive effects of predation?

Effects that occur when prey populations are limited due to fear of predation, leading to changes in behavior or habitat.

How do predator and prey population cycles relate?

Predator and prey populations cycle together, often with predator populations lagging behind prey populations due to consumptive and non-consumptive effects.

What example illustrates the consumptive effects of introduced beetles?

Herbivory from introduced beetles controlled the spread of the introduced Klamath weed.

How can fear of predation affect prey behavior?

Fearful prey may change habitats, behaviors, or timings of activity, which can waste time and energy.

What is a predator isocline?

The number of prey at which the predator population size stays constant.

What happens to hare population size based on lynx population changes?

Hare populations decline as lynx populations increase.

What factors are tested in manipulative experiments regarding predator effects?

Researchers test the impact of consumptive versus non-consumptive effects on prey survival and behavior.

What is the significance of the time lag in predator-prey dynamics?

The time lag indicates that changes in prey abundance often occur before changes in predator abundance.

What did the study involving songbird nests aim to measure?

It aimed to measure the non-consumptive effects of predator sounds on the survival rates of baby birds.

What might reduce hare population in high lynx densities?

Fear of predation can reduce hare population in areas with high lynx densities.

What is the expected relationship between hare density and lynx density?

Higher hare densities allow for increased lynx densities.

What is the primary cause of hare population cycles?

Hare population cycles are driven by both consumptive and non-consumptive effects of predation.

What is an example of non-consumptive effects on prey?

songbirds spending more time fleeing than caring for their young, which decreases offspring survival rate.

How does the number of predators affect populations of prey?

As predators increase, prey decrease. Predators decrease, prey increase.

How does the population of prey affect the population of predators?

Too little prey decreases predators. Abundant prey increases predators

What do the predator/prey isoclines represent?

The number of prey/predators at which the other population size is constant

What does the Lotka-Volterra model predict?

Changes in prey population size

What is dN/dT?

instantaneous rate of increase in prey

what is r?

intrinsic growth rate of prey per capita

what is N?

number of prey

what is c?

fraction of prey cause by each predator

what is P?

number of predators

what is a in the predator population model?

efficiency of converting 1 prey to 1 predator offspring

what is m in the predator population model?

mortality rate of predators

What is the predator population model equation?

What is the prey population model equation>

describe type 1 lotka-volterra.

assumes c is constant and predator consumption rate increases linearly with prey population size

Describe type 2 lotka-volterra.

predator rate of consumption slows as prey density increases, then plateaus

Describe type 3 lotka-volterra.

predator consumption is initially low, increases fast at medium prey densities, then decreases when prey density is high.

define aposematism

honest signaling to predators that prey is harmful to eat. Poison frogs in Peru

behavioral defenses

behaviors of prey attempting to avoid predators. Warning signals, avoidance,

chemical defenses

compounds in prey that are hard to digest or poison

structural defenses

physical structures that make prey hard to eat

coloration defenses

camouflage or warning colors

Mullerian mimicry

different species that are both distasteful to predators and look the same

Batesian mimicry

non-harmful species mimicking harmful species to trick predators.