BEHAVIORAL INDIRECT INTERACTIONS: MULTIPLE PREDATOR EFFECTS AND PREY SWITCHING IN THE ROCKY SUBTIDAL

Abstract

The high trophic connectivity of many communities can produce large numbers of indirect interactions. Although many trait-mediated indirect interactions (TMII) are caused by changes in prey behavior, less is known about the effects of changes in predator behavior such as prey switching or multiple predator effects (MPE) on indirect interactions, especially in marine systems. We performed a series of field caging experiments off the Isles of Shoals, Maine (USA) from 2000 to 2002 to test for the presence of behaviorally mediated indirect effects in a shallow subtidal food web. Specifically, crab (Cancer borealis) predation on sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) was quantified in three habitats (Codium fragile algal beds, barrens, and mussel beds) representing differing combinations of food and shelter to examine the effects of prey switching by crabs. A second predator (the lobster, Homarus americanus) was added to the crab treatments to examine MPE effects. Urchin mortality was significantly lower in the mussel habitat than in the Codium and barren habitats. Mussels produced a positive indirect effect on urchins by changing the behavior of crabs; crabs fed on mussels instead of urchins (prey switching). In the barrens, crab predation on urchins indirectly increased the abundance of the introduced ascidian, Diplosoma sp., whereas Codium density did not change among treatments. A significant risk reduction for urchins occurred in Codium and barren habitats, but not in mussel habitats when crabs and lobsters were combined. Lobsters also produced a positive indirect effect on mussels by reducing crab predation. Thus, lobsters modify crab behavior and dampen changes in community structure. Our results illustrate the importance of predator behavior and habitat context in modifying consumer pressure and community structure, and argue for the consideration of these factors in other multi-predator systems where habitats represent food and/or shelter.