Why do decapod crustaceans prefer small-sized molluscan prey?
نویسنده
چکیده
A survey of studies examining crab and lobster predation on hard-shelled molluscs indicated that most predators prefer small-sized prey when offered a range of sizes. I suggest that this pattern of preference for small-sized prey can be explained by considering the mechanical cost of predation. If predation costs are assumed to be non-renewable, then the probability of exhausting them can be included as an additional parameter in the classical diet breadth model. The importance of predation costs in determining prey size selection can be extended to other predators that use mechanical means to attack their prey.
منابع مشابه
Decapod Crustaceans associated with the sponge Sarcotragus muscarum Schmidt, 1864 (Porifera: Demospongiae) from the Levantine coasts of Turkey
The present study was carried out to determine the Decapod Crustaceans fauna in association with Sarcotragus muscarum Schmidt, 1864 from the Levantine Sea coasts of Turkey studied between 13 September 2005 and 07 October 2005. As a result of the present study, a total of 711 specimens belonging to 12 decapod species were identified. Among the species determined, Synalpheus gambaroloides (Nardo,...
متن کاملDecapod Crustaceans associated with the sponge Sarcotragus muscarum Schmidt, 1864 (Porifera: Demospongiae) from the Levantine coasts of Turkey
The present study was carried out to determine the Decapod Crustaceans fauna in association with Sarcotragus muscarum Schmidt, 1864 from the Levantine Sea coasts of Turkey studied between 13 September 2005 and 07 October 2005. As a result of the present study, a total of 711 specimens belonging to 12 decapod species were identified. Among the species determined, Synalpheus gambaroloides (Nardo,...
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Cadmium injections induced only a single form of metallothionein (MT) in the midgut gland of Potamon potamios, whereas the same treatment induced two isoforms in Astacus astacus. The only difference between the two latter isoforms was that one had an extra N-terminal methionine residue. MT from P. potamios showed structural differences from other decapod crustacean MTs. It contained a Gly-Thr m...
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