How to analyse prey preference when prey density varies? A new method to discriminate between effects of gut fullness and prey type composition

Abstract

State-dependent changes in prey preference are among the phenomena to be expected in studies of predator behaviour. For example, the rate of attack on each prey type is well known to be affected by the state of satiation, the dynamics of which is often assumed to parallel that of gut fullness. An interesting question is whether satiation alone is the determinant of the attack rate or whether the particular mixture of prey types in the predator's direct environment has an additional influence by itself. To detect examples of the latter type the predictive method proposed by Cock (1978) may be useful. In the present paper the predictive tool is a model built on the assumption that gut fullness is the sole internal state variable determining the attack rate. It is provided with parameter estimates from observations in monocultures of each type and then used to predict predation in mixtures of prey types. When measured predation on these prey types differs from what is predicted, the model may be too simple in various respects, one of which is that predators change prey preference in response to their own sample estimates of the densities of each prey type and their (innate or sample) estimate of the profitability of each prey type in terms of reproductive success. Thus, the lack of fit of the model poses a challenging problem, for to explain it one must identify underlying causes, such as differences in prey quality with respect to scarce nutrients or noxious chemicals that need to be detoxified or rendered harmless in other ways. The predictive approach is illustrated by analysis of preference of predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Typhlodromus occidentalis Nesbitt) with respect to various stages of development of their prey, the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch). The results show that the relation between attack rate and gut fullness might well explain prey stage preference of predatory mites when the prey stages are presented together rather than each alone. In another paper by Dicke et al. (1989) marked deviations between predicted and measured diet are reported when the predatory mite, Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten, was offered a choice between two prey species, i.e. apple rust mites and (larvae of) European red spider mites. The underlying causes are to be revealed by further research, the impetus of which is born out by use of the method proposed by Cock (1978) and extended in this paper.