Effects of Habitat Complexity, Size Disparity, Prey Type and Abundance on Intraguild Predation Between Larval Odonates

Year

2009

Season

Fall

Paper Type

Master's Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Biology (MA)

Department

Biology

College Dean

Dr. Barbara A. Hetrick

Abstract

Intraguild predation is a widespread predator-prey interaction that frequently occurs between larval odonates in freshwater lentic communities. The strength of intraguild predation and cannibalism between the dragonfly, Leucorrhinia glacialis, and the damselfly, Enallagma civile, was examined in this study under 16 different experimental treatments. A 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design utilizing mesocosms investigated the strength of intraguild interactions under two levels each of habitat complexity (high or low), prey abundance (high or low), prey type (amphipods or blackworms), and size disparity between dragonflies (high or low). Growth and survivorship of larval odonates were evaluated during three weeks in September 2009. Results from this study demonstrated the presence of intraguild predation and cannibalism through changes in survivorship, growth and emergence of Leucorrhinia and Enallagma. Size disparity was a significant factor for Leucorrhinia survivorship (P

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