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Habitat complexity does not promote coexistence in a size-structured intraguild predation system.

Birte Reichstein¹, Arne Schröder, Lennart Persson

¹Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, SE-90187, Umeå, Sweden. birte.reichstein@emg.umu.se

The Journal of Animal Ecology

|September 26, 2012

Summary

Habitat complexity weakened predation in intraguild predation (IGP) systems but did not promote coexistence. It negatively impacted large predator invasion but positively affected small predators, altering competitive dynamics.

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Aquatic Ecology

Background:

Intraguild predation (IGP) systems are influenced by size-dependent interactions and habitat complexity.
Habitat complexity is hypothesized to facilitate coexistence by weakening trophic interactions, especially predation.

Purpose of the Study:

To experimentally investigate how habitat complexity affects coexistence and invasion success in a size-structured IGP system.
To elucidate the mechanisms behind habitat complexity's influence on prey refuges and predator-prey dynamics.

Main Methods:

Conducted medium-long and long-term invasion experiments.
Performed predator-prey and competition experiments.
Utilized a size-structured IGP system with Poecilia reticulata (IG-predator) and Heterandria formosa (IG-prey).

Main Results:

Habitat complexity weakened the predation link but did not promote IG-predator and IG-prey coexistence.
Invasion success was negatively affected by habitat structure for large IG-predators and positively for small IG-predators.
Refuges in habitat structure decreased IG-predator capture rates and shifted juvenile size distributions.

Conclusions:

Habitat complexity shifted IGP systems towards competition-driven dynamics by diminishing predation.
While competitive abilities were equalized, coexistence was not enhanced.
Individual-level mechanisms may become more significant than species-level mechanisms in complex habitats within size-structured IGP systems.