<i> Limnephilus externus </i> Case Grazing Effects on Predation
Abstract
Predator prey interactions are essential components of ecosystems, especially in lower trophic levels as they fuel many other organisms. Many prey organisms have developed tactics to decrease the rate of predation. For example, larval caddisflies build cases out of sedge and other detritus in their environment. These cases provide caddisflies with more protection from predators relative to other aquatic invertebrates. However, one species of caddisfly, Limnephilus externus, has been observed grazing on its case. The reason for this is unknown, but I hypothesized that it could make them more vulnerable to predation. Here, I tested how grazed and ungrazed cases influenced rates of salamander predation on L. externus. Based on the results of the experiment, case grazing does not have a significant effect on predation rates. These results narrow down the possible reasons that L. externus case grazes, but further research needs to be done to determine to why case grazing occurs.
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References (5)
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