Direct and indirect effects of southern flounder predation on a spot population: Experimental and model analyses
- North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States). Dept. of Zoology
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
We have previously shown that southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma Jordan and Gilbert) influence the survival and size-distribution of spot (Leiostomus xanthurus Lafayette) and other small estuarine fishes in experimental ponds. In this paper, we seek to determine whether these of effects can be accounted for by direct size-dependent predation or if there is also evidence for indirect behavioral effects on spot foraging which might alter their survival or population size structure. In our experiment, spot were allowed to grow in the presence and absence of southern flounder in an experimental estuarine pond for 101 days. Each treatment was replicated three times. We also apply a recently published simulation model of the flounder-spot interaction to this experiment to independently test the model and to estimate the direct effects of flounder predation on spot survival and size structure.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- EPRI; Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6181033
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9211244-1; ON: DE93015452; CNN: RP2932-2
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Gutshop 92, Orcas Island, WA (United States), 8-11 Nov 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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