Abstract
The effect of temperature on predator–prey dynamics has the potential to be an important factor regulating ecological interactions and is becoming increasingly common due to climate-change-driven range shifts and species introductions. Here, we use mesocosm experiments to evaluate the thermal sensitivity of burst swimming (a proxy for prey escape ability) and mortality rates of cohorts of introduced tropical and resident temperate marine fishes in the presence of a local temperate predator. Increasing temperature (17–21–25 °C) resulted in a reduction in predation rates (by Hypoplectrodes maccullochi, family Serranidae) on the tropical prey species (Abudefduf vaigiensis, family Pomacentridae) which were more warm adapted, whereas predation rates on the temperate prey species (Atypichthys strigatus, family Kyphosidae) remained unchanged over the 17–21 °C range (25 °C not tested). These changes were linearly related to predator–prey burst swimming ratios, which decreased with increasing temperature for the tropical prey but remained largely unchanged for the temperate prey. By demonstrating the temperature sensitivity of predator–prey interactions, our work highlights the importance of linking physiology with ecology to understand the consequences of climate-driven range shifts and species introductions.
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Acknowledgements
Thanks to Ronen Galaiduk and Belle McCarthy for assistance with collections and husbandry, and to Jenni Donnelson for valuable comments on the manuscript. And thanks to the staff at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science and BioSys Consulting for continued support of the controlled temperature seawater system. All work was conducted under NSW Fisheries Permit number F96/146-6.0. This is contribution number 243 to the Sydney Institute of Marine Science.
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This work was supported by a NSW Environmental Trust grant to D Booth and W Figueira.
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All research was conducted in accordance with the University of Sydney’s guidelines for animal ethics and under permits 5200 and 5214 to W. Figueira.
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Figueira, W.F., Curley, B. & Booth, D.J. Can temperature-dependent predation rates regulate range expansion potential of tropical vagrant fishes?. Mar Biol 166, 73 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-019-3521-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-019-3521-5