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Effects of predator hunting mode on grassland ecosystem function.

Oswald J Schmitz1

  • 1School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. oswald.schmitz@yale.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|February 16, 2008
PubMed
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Predator hunting mode significantly impacts ecosystem function. Active hunters like spiders decrease plant diversity but boost productivity, while ambush predators have opposite effects on grassland ecosystems.

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Ecosystem Dynamics
  • Predator-Prey Interactions

Background:

  • Predator hunting mode and prey antipredator behavior interplay to control prey populations.
  • The influence of this interplay on ecosystem function remains largely uncertain.
  • Grasshopper species are dominant herbivores controlling plant composition and ecosystem functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how predator hunting mode influences ecosystem function.
  • To determine the effects of different predator hunting strategies on grassland ecosystems.
  • To understand the role of prey responses in mediating these effects.

Main Methods:

  • A 3-year experiment was conducted using grassland mesocosms.
  • The study compared the effects of actively hunting spiders versus sit-and-wait ambush spiders.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Measurements included plant species diversity, aboveground net primary production, and nitrogen mineralization rate.

    • Main Results:

    • Actively hunting spiders reduced plant species diversity.
    • Actively hunting spiders enhanced aboveground net primary production and nitrogen mineralization rate.
    • Sit-and-wait ambush spiders exhibited opposite effects on these ecosystem parameters.

    Conclusions:

    • Predator hunting mode is a key functional trait influencing top-down ecosystem control.
    • Different predator hunting strategies lead to distinct ecosystem functions via prey responses.
    • Understanding predator behavior is crucial for predicting ecosystem responses to predation.