Predation on herbivorous amphipods associated to macroalgae: role of the host and the characteristics of herbivore

• Grant number: 13/17629-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2014
• End date: January 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Fosca Pedini Pereira Leite
• Grantee: Glauco Barreto de Oliveira Machado
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 15/09307-7 - The impact of nutritional requirements of mesoherbivores on their host preferences, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

In order to understand the interaction between herbivores and primary producers in terrestrial and aquatic systems is central to investigate the role of predators on the abundance of herbivores, and which factors can mediate the intensity of predation. In marine ecosystems, macroalgae offer food and refuge against predators for small herbivores. In this context, the intensity of predation on a herbivore is mediated by both the attributes of the host macroalgae and the characteristics of the herbivore. However, such aspects rarely have been investigated simultaneously for a system. Cymadusa filosa and Sunampithoe pelagica are herbivorous amphipods that differ in size, mobility and diet-restrictions. Even though they are commonly found in São Paulo's coast associated to macroalgae, little is known about the factors that affect the interaction between these organisms. Given this scenario, these amphipods are suitable models to investigate the importance of two aspects that mediate the vulnerability of small herbivores to predation: the host species and the characteristics of herbivore. In order to explore these questions, we will conduct laboratory predation experiments with these amphipods, as well as field collections. This study thus seeks to contribute to the understanding about the factors that mediate the predation on herbivores, and to the understanding of the interaction between amphipods and macroalgae.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MACHADO, GLAUCO B. O.; FERREIRA, ANA P.; BUENO, MARILIA; SIQUEIRA, SILVANA G. L.; LEITE, FOSCA P. P.. Effects of macroalgal host identity and predation on an amphipod assemblage from a subtropical rocky shore. Hydrobiologia, v. 836, n. 1, p. 65-81, JUN 2019. (13/17629-9)

MACHADO, GLAUCO B. O.; FERREIRA, ANA P.; LEITE, FOSCA P. P.. Testing the importance of predation refuge vs. food quality in determining the use of macroalgal hosts by a generalist marine mesograzer. Marine Biology, v. 166, n. 5, MAY 2019. (13/17629-9)

PAULA, CAIO A. A.; BORGES, DALILA J. J.; ANDRADE, AYNARA R. R.; LEITE, FOSCA P. P.; COSTA, TANIA M.; MACHADO, GLAUCO B. O.. Contrasting host use and feeding behavior by sympatric mesograzers. MARINE ECOLOGY-AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE, v. N/A, p. 9-pg., 2023-07-11. (13/17629-9, 20/03171-4, 18/11803-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MACHADO, Glauco Barreto de Oliveira. Associação de anfípodes com algas: efeitos da identidade da alga hospedeira, predação e comportamento alimentar de anfípodes. 2018. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia Campinas, SP.