Temperature does not influence functional response of amphipods consuming different trematode prey

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Parasitology
• Predator-prey dynamics

Background:

• Non-host organisms consuming trematode cercariae can disrupt parasite transmission cycles.
• Consumer functional responses are key to understanding predation rates in relation to prey density and environmental factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of temperature on the functional response of Gammarus lacustris to cercariae of three freshwater trematodes.
• To determine if amphipod predation patterns are influenced by parasite species, temperature, or cercarial distribution.

Main Methods:

• Experimental investigation of the functional response of Gammarus lacustris to Diplostomum, Apatemon, and Trichobilharzia cercariae.
• Varying temperature conditions to assess their impact on amphipod consumption rates.

Main Results:

• Gammarus lacustris exhibited Type II functional responses to Diplostomum and Type I responses to Apatemon cercariae.
• Temperature did not significantly alter the consumption rates of G. lacustris.
• Prey consumption patterns were linked to cercarial distribution in the water column, not temperature or cercarial size.

Conclusions:

• Amphipod predation on cercariae can be a significant factor in parasite transmission dynamics.
• The study demonstrates a Type I functional response in a non-filter feeding predator towards cercariae, a novel finding.
• Understanding these predator-prey interactions is crucial for managing parasitic diseases and food web dynamics.