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Predation of Apochthonius minimus (Pseudoscorpionida: Chthoniidae) on Folsomia canadida (Collembola: Isotomidae)
Author(s) -
Johnson Dan L.,
Wellington W. G.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
population ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1438-390X
pISSN - 1438-3896
DOI - 10.1007/bf02530855
Subject(s) - predation , springtail , biology , functional response , zoology , ecology , predator , ecotoxicology
Summary We investigated the functional response of the predaceous pseudoscorpion, Apochthonius minimus , to density of the springtail, Folsomia candida , as well as the effects of temperature and prey size on handling time and attack rate. Temperature slightly altered the overall rise in response. Both the rise and shape of the response differed for two prey sizes. The changes in number of prey eaten over a 48‐hour period were also examined, and the attack and feeding behaviour of A. minimus was described and discussed in relation to the predation experiments. The pseudoscorpion preferred young adult F. candida , 0.8–1.2 mm in length, when offered prey in the range, 0.2–1.5 mm.