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Prey to predator transfer of enriched 15 N‐contents: basic laboratory data for predation studies using 15 N as marker
Author(s) -
Nienstedt Karin M.,
Poehling HansMichael
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
entomologia experimentalis et applicata
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.765
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1570-7458
pISSN - 0013-8703
DOI - 10.1111/j.0013-8703.2004.00195.x
Subject(s) - predation , linyphiidae , biology , ingestion , predator , sitobion avenae , zoology , ecology , homoptera , botany , pest analysis , aphididae , biochemistry , spider
As an alternative to methods currently used to study predation under field conditions, we propose to mark prey with 15 N, and to subsequently trace this label in the food chain. Preliminary laboratory work to develop this method is presented. The 15 N‐content of polyphagous predators that have ingested 15 N‐marked aphids was analysed with respect to: time after ingestion, the number of ingested 15 N‐aphids, ingestion of additional non‐marked prey, and predator size. Increased 15 N‐contents were detected in solid feeders [ Platynus dorsalis (Pontopiddan), Coleoptera: Carabidae], as well as in fluid feeders [ Erigone atra (Blackwall), Araneae: Linyphiidae] up to 11 days after ingestion. The increased 15 N‐levels were constant over time from a few days after 15 N‐ingestion onwards, and correlated with the number of ingested 15 N‐aphids. The ingestion of additional non‐marked prey had no statistically significant influence on the predators’ 15 N‐contents. The 15 N‐contents of carabid species with varying biomasses could be compared directly. Our results are compared with literature data of other methods (e.g., ELISA).