Interspecific Interactions I: Predation and Parasitism

Abstract

Predation and parasitism are dominant forms of interspecific interactions in aquatic ecosystems. Predation effects have been more commonly quantified in aquatic ecosystems than disease. Diet studies documenting predation are substantially more common that routine monitoring for disease in aquaculture systems. The simplest predator–prey models predict lagged cycles of prey and their predators. Density-dependent regulation of the prey or predator population is required for stable coexistence of predator and prey populations. Predator–prey models are extended with the incorporation of non-linear functional responses, which can result in multiple equilibria. The behavior and dynamics of natural predators hold important insights in our consideration of human predation on aquatic resource species. Disease outbreaks have wrought tremendous impacts on a very broad spectrum of aquatic species. For economically important species, these impacts include significant economic costs to fishing communities and aquaculture facilities.