A spatio‐temporal contrast of the predatory impact of an invasive freshwater crustacean

Aim Impacts of invasive species may vary across invasion gradients, owing to trait‐based sorting of individuals through dispersal: those aggregating at invasion fronts may be more aggressive and voracious. We examine, in the field and laboratory, variation in the predatory impacts of an invasive P onto‐ C aspian crustacean H emimysis anomala G . O . S ars, 1907 at two sites along a spatio‐temporal gradient of invasion. Location R epublic of I reland. Methods We used reciprocal transplant field‐deployed mesocosms to compare predation rates of invasion front and well‐established H . anomala on natural zooplankton assemblages. In the laboratory, we measured the functional response (relationship between predation rate and prey supply) of H . anomala from both sites, for a per capita mechanistic comparison of predation efficiency. We also assessed prey selectivity of H . anomala in the mesocosm experiments to further compare feeding behaviour. Finally, we used a correlative approach to assess the community impact of H . anomala across sites, including a nearby uninvaded site, by comparing zooplankton diversities and densities. Results Invasion front H . anomala had higher predation rates than well‐established H . anomala at high in situ zooplankton densities. Invasion front H . anomala also had higher functional responses – in particular showing higher ‘attack rates’ – indicating a heightened ability to locate and capture prey. Prey selectivity was consistent across the spatio‐temporal contrast, with positive selection for cladocerans. Zooplankton diversity and density declined with time since H . anomala invasion, both being maximal at the uninvaded site. Main conclusions Our study, for the first time, (1) reveals differences in predatory per capita effects and associated behavioural traits between two sites along a spatio‐temporal invasion gradient and (2) shows a negative community‐level impact of the invasive H . anomala in natural water bodies. Further spatio‐temporal comparisons of predatory per capita effects of invaders are needed to assess the generality of these results.