Prey dispersal rate affects prey species composition and trait diversity in response to multiple predators in metacommunities.

摘要: Summary 1. Recent studies indicate that large-scale spatial processes can alter local community structuring mechanisms to determine and regional assemblages of predators their prey. In metacommunities, this may occur when the functional diversity represented in predator species pool interacts with rate prey dispersal among communities affect trait composition at multiple scales. 2. Here, we test for effects spatially temporally heterogeneous predation from functionally dissimilar on structure pond mesocosm metacommunities. An experimental metacommunity consisted three supporting two differentially size-selective invertebrate zooplankton each metacommunity, maintained constant supported either Gyrinus sp. (Coleoptera) or Notonecta ungulata (Hemiptera) generating a refuge while third alternating N. ungulata temporal refuge. Mesocosm metacommunities were connected low (0·7% day−1) high (10% day−1) planktonic dispersal. The diversity, body size measured (metacommunity) scales. 3. Metacommunities experiencing greatest (H’) evenness (J’). Neither nor regime affected evenness. largest difference between under predation, suggesting sorting was operating rate. There no effect distribution refuge. 4. The frequency distribution, but not range, sizes within depended upon identity. Taken together, these results demonstrate moderate strength influence traits ecologically different predators.