ECOL Predation 3

Question 1

What does the Lotka-Volterra Model of predator-prey interactions assume?

Answer 1

assumes that predators have a constant capture efficiency (c) across all prey population sizes

IN NATURE IT IS NOT COSNTANT

Question 2

What is the type 1 curve?

Answer 2

assumption of Lotka-Voltera (exponential)

each predator consumes a constant proportion of prey population regardless of prey density

Question 3

What is the type 2 curve?

Answer 3

predation rate decreases as predator satiation sets an upper limit on food consumption

Question 4

What is the type 3 curve?

Answer 4

predation rate decreases at low as well as at high prey densities

Question 5

Functional response curves type 2 and 3 allow what?

Answer 5

allow us to visualize the various ways predators’ capture efficiency may change based on prey population size

Question 6

What is the least realistic functional response?

Answer 6

type 1
- predator’s rate of prey consumption linearly increases with prey density
- satiation and biomechanics obviously limit capture efficiencies at high prey densities

Question 7

What functional response is where the predator’s rate of prey consumption slows as prey population density increases, eventually reaching a plateau?

Answer 7

type 2 functional response
- consumption rate decreases at high densities because of a time cost associated with handling prey items and/or satiation

Question 8

What functional response is where the predator’s rate of prey consumption is initially low, increases rapidly when prey density is moderate, and slows when prey density is high?

Answer 8

type 3 functional response
-there is low consumption rate at low prey densities because predators have had less practice catching novel prey or the remaining prey are the best hiders

Question 9

What are the defenses against predation?

Answer 9

-behavioral defenses
-chemical defenses
-structural defenses
-coloration defenses

Question 10

Behavioral defenses

Answer 10

alarm calling, vigilance, reduced activity, avoidance

Question 11

Chemical defenses

Answer 11

compounds that are unpalatable or hard to digest

Question 12

Structural defenses

Answer 12

physical structures that make it logistically difficult for a predator to consume the prey

Question 13

Colorations defenses

Answer 13

-camouflage, which allows organisms to blend in with the background
-warning coloration, which allows organisms to stand out from the back ground

Question 14

Aposematic coloration

Answer 14

-aka warning coloration
-color patterns warn predators of their distastefulness (honest signal)
-ex. poisonous frogs across Peru have bright color patterns
-predators learn to avoid eating brightly colored prey

Question 15

Mullein mimicry

Answer 15

-by looking alike, each harmful species reduces their risk of predation by increasing likelihood that predators will learn to avoid them
-stinging bee and stinging wasp have same coloration

Question 16

Bayesian mimicry

Answer 16

harmless species avoid predation by mimicking the color patterns of species that are harmful predators
-ex. non-stinging hoverfly and non-stinging moth both look like the stinging insects due to their coloration