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Dietary routing of nutrients from prey to offspring in a generalist predator: effects of prey quality
Author(s) -
RICKERS S.,
LANGEL R.,
SCHEU S.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
functional ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2435
pISSN - 0269-8463
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01077.x
Subject(s) - biology , predation , nutrient , predator , generalist and specialist species , offspring , ecology , zoology , reproduction , habitat , pregnancy , genetics
Summary1 Reproduction of female wolf spiders ( Pardosa lugubris ; Lycosidae) fed with prey of different quality was investigated. Spiders were fed either a single diet of Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera, high quality), Heteromurus nitidus (Collembola, high quality) or Folsomia candida (Collembola, toxic), or a mixed diet of D. melanogaster and H. nitidus , and of D. melanogaster and F. candida . 2 Nutrient flow from prey into females and from females into offspring during egg production was investigated tracing carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes with prey being enriched in 13 C and/or 15 N. 3 There was no benefit of mixing different high‐quality prey on female biomass and performance, contrasting with earlier results obtained with juvenile spiders. 4 Folsomia candida was toxic for P. lugubris : females, even if fed a mixed diet also containing high‐quality prey, did not reproduce and finally died; spiders did not acquire aversion against F. candida . 5 Tracing stable isotopes documented the incorporation of C and N from prey into females and their offspring; dietary nutrients were routed almost exclusively into egg production. 6 Stable isotope analysis strongly supported the assumption that F. candida causes post‐ingestive physiological effects in spiders by inhibiting the incorporation of nutrients from other prey.