Predator-Prey Dynamics Between the Blue Crab: Callineates Sapidus Rathbun, and Juvenile Oysters Crassostrea Virginica (Gmelin)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
W&M ScholarWorks Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 1988 Predator-Prey Dynamics between the Blue Crab: Callineates sapidus Rathbun, and Juvenile Oysters Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) David B. Eggleston College of William and Mary - Virginia Institute of Marine Science Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd Part of the Marine Biology Commons, and the Oceanography Commons Recommended Citation Eggleston, David B., "Predator-Prey Dynamics between the Blue Crab: Callineates sapidus Rathbun, and Juvenile Oysters Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin)" (1988). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1539617593. https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.25773/v5-0dfe-pz81 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Predator-prey dynamics between the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, and juvenile oysters Crassostrea viroinica (Gmelin) A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the School of Marine Science The College of William and Mary in Virginia In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by David B. Eggleston APPROVAL SHEET This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillm ent of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts . EggTeston Approved: May 1988 Roger L. Mann, Ph.D. Committee Chairman/Advisor kGroave^T^Ph.D. * 1 yRomuald N. Lipcaus, Ph.D. Joseph G. Loesch, Ph.D. Mark W. Luckenbach, Ph.D. Morris H. Roberts, J r., Ph.D. i i DEDICATION To my mother, Jean, for preparing me for success, and in memory of a good friend, my father, Duane. i i i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES..........................................................................................................vii LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................... ix ABSTRACT......................................................................................................................... x ii INTRODUCTION......................... .... ............................................................................ 2 Mechanisms regulating predation intensity ......................................5 Functional response models ..... 11 Behavioral components: functional response and optimization models. .............................................................. 16 OBJECTIVES..................... .... ...........................................................................20 MATERIALS AND METHODS ......................................................................................... 21 Experimental design for functional response model assumptions. ...........................................................................21 Laboratory experimental animals and procedures ......................... 23 General analysis of functional responses .................................. 28 Analysis of general functional response models .......................... 29 Analysis of conceptual functional response models........................30 Behavioral observations. 32 General analysis of behavioral observations .....................................34 Prey profitability. ...................................................................................34 Analysis of specific factors Temperature ..................... 36 Oyster length. .... ..... 36 Crab size. ....................................................................................... 37 Crab sex ....................................................................................... 37 Field site . ....................................................................................... 38 Field study ........................................................................................................39 Analysis of field data ...............................................................................42 RESULTS.........................................................................................................................43 General foraging behavior ........................................................................4 3 Temperature effects: functional responses .........................................46 Temperature effects: functional response models General model ....................................................................................................50 Conceptual models ...................................................... 51 Temperature and density effects: behavioral components . 53 Oyster length effects: functional responses .....................................62 Oyster length effects: functional response models General model .............................................................................................. 66 Conceptual models ............................................................................................67 Oyster length effects: behavioral components .............................. 68 Crab size effects: functional responses-Large oysters. 80 Crab size effects: functional response models General model ................................. 84 Conceptual models. .......................................................... 85 Crab size effects: functional responses-Medium oysters . 86 i v Crab size effects: functional response models General model ............................................................................................... 89 Conceptual models .........................................................................................9 0 Crab size effects: functional responses-Small oysters. 92 Crab size effects: functional response models General model. ........................ ..........................................................96 Conceptual models .................................................................................... 97 Crab sex effects: functional responses Large oysters-Large crabs .......................................... .........................* 98 Crab sex effects: functional response models General model ........................ ......................................................102 Conceptual models. ................................................................................ 103 Crab sex effects: chelae height to carapace width ratios . 104 Crab sex effects: functional responses Medium oysters-Large crabs ..................................................104 Crab sex effects: functional response models General model. .................... 108 Conceptual models. ................................................................................ 109 Crab sex effects: functional responses Large oysters-Medium crabs ................................................................... 110 Crab sex effects: functional response models General model. .................... 113 Conceptual models. ....................................................................... 114 Field study. ......................................... 115 DISCUSSION................................... 124 General foraging behavior ...........................................................................125 Temperature effects: functional responses ......................................... 127 Temperature effects: modeling .................................................................. 129 Temperature effects: behavioral components .................................. 130 Oyster length effects: functional responses ...................................... 136 Oyster length effects: modeling ............................................................. 138 Oyster length effects: behavioral components ............................... 139 Crab size effects: functional responses ............................................. 145 Crab size effects: modeling .......................................................................149 Crab size effects: behavioral components ...................................... 151 Crab sex effects: functional responses .......................................... 151 Crab sex effects: modeling .......................................................................153 Crab sex effects: behavioral components ..............................................154 Overview of complex factor effects Temperature ........................................................................................................ 156 Oyster length. ....................................................................................... 157 Crab size ......................... 158 Crab sex ............................................................................................159 Applicability of general and conceptual functional response models .................................................................................................................160 Field study ........................................................................................................ 162 Application to oyster enhancement operations ......................... 167 LITERATURE CITED........................................................................... 168 VITA...................................... 222 v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank my major professor, Dr. Roger Mann, for his support, guidance, and confidence