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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
06:02
A Low-Cost Method of Measuring the In Situ Primary Productivity of Periphyton Communities of Lentic Waters
Published on: December 16, 2022
Water availability directly determines per capita consumption at two trophic levels
Kevin E McCluney1, John L Sabo
1P.O. Box 874601, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-4601, USA. Kevin.McCluney@asu.edu
Ecology
|July 3, 2009
Summary
Water availability significantly impacts predator-prey dynamics. Spiders and crickets interact more strongly when water is scarce, influencing foraging behavior and ecological interactions.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Animal Behavior
- Physiological Ecology
Background:
- Community ecology traditionally emphasizes energy and nutrients in species interactions.
- Water's role in terrestrial animal behavior and species richness is increasingly recognized.
- However, water's direct influence as a currency in species interactions remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of water availability on the interaction strength between wolf spiders and field crickets.
- To determine if water influences prey foraging decisions and resource utilization.
Main Methods:
- Experimental manipulation of water availability for predator (wolf spiders) and prey (field crickets).
- Quantification of per capita interaction strength between wolf spiders and field crickets under different hydration conditions.
- Measurement of cricket consumption of leaf material under varying water availability.
Main Results:
- Per capita interaction strength was significantly higher (-0.266) in dry conditions compared to when water was freely available (0.001).
- Field crickets consumed 31-fold more moist leaf material when water was scarce.
- Crickets shifted from consuming old litter to moist green leaves under dry conditions.
Conclusions:
- Water availability is a critical factor influencing the strength and nature of predator-prey interactions.
- Aridity can alter foraging decisions, prioritizing water needs over energy or nutrient acquisition.
- Changes in aridity may lead to predictable shifts in ecological interactions and community structure.
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