Effects of Short-Duration and Diel-Cycling Hypoxia on Predation of Mussels and Oysters in Two Tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay

Although the effects of persistent hypoxia have been well established, few studies have explored the community-level effects of short-duration and diel-cycling hypoxia, for example on predator−prey interactions. Consumer stress models predict that mobile predators will flee hypoxia, while...

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Main Authors: Ellen Neff, Jessica MacGregor, Keryn B. Gedan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-02-01
Series:Diversity
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/3/87
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author Ellen Neff
Jessica MacGregor
Keryn B. Gedan
author_facet Ellen Neff
Jessica MacGregor
Keryn B. Gedan
author_sort Ellen Neff
collection DOAJ
description Although the effects of persistent hypoxia have been well established, few studies have explored the community-level effects of short-duration and diel-cycling hypoxia, for example on predator&#8722;prey interactions. Consumer stress models predict that mobile predators will flee hypoxia, while prey stress models predict that sessile species, unable to avoid hypoxic water, will be more susceptible to predation. To test these hypotheses, we studied the effects of diel-cycling hypoxia on predation of the hooked mussel, <i>Ischadium</i><i> </i><i>recurvum</i><i>,</i><i> </i>and eastern oyster, <i>Crassostrea virginica</i><i>,</i> in field experiments in two Chesapeake Bay, USA tributaries. We conducted a complementary laboratory experiment that tested the impact of short-duration hypoxia on predation of the two bivalve species<i> </i>by the ecologically and commercially important blue crab, <i>Callinectes </i><i>sapidus</i>. Although we did not observe a significant effect of diel-cycling hypoxia on predation in the field, we did observe an effect of short-duration hypoxia in the laboratory. <i>Callinectes </i><i>sapidus</i> exhibited depressed feeding rates and reduced preference for <i>I. </i><i>recurvum</i> in hypoxic conditions. In both field and lab results, we observed a strong preference of predators for <i>I. </i><i>recurvum</i> over <i>C. virginica</i>, indicating that the relatively understudied mussel <i>I. </i><i>recurvum</i> merits greater consideration as a part of estuarine food webs.
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spelling doaj.art-e0d1e33dabda4154bca34a474e4564cb2022-12-22T04:25:16ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182020-02-011238710.3390/d12030087d12030087Effects of Short-Duration and Diel-Cycling Hypoxia on Predation of Mussels and Oysters in Two Tributaries of the Chesapeake BayEllen Neff0Jessica MacGregor1Keryn B. Gedan2Lab Animal, Nature Research, Springer Nature, New York, NY 10004, USABiological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USABiological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USAAlthough the effects of persistent hypoxia have been well established, few studies have explored the community-level effects of short-duration and diel-cycling hypoxia, for example on predator&#8722;prey interactions. Consumer stress models predict that mobile predators will flee hypoxia, while prey stress models predict that sessile species, unable to avoid hypoxic water, will be more susceptible to predation. To test these hypotheses, we studied the effects of diel-cycling hypoxia on predation of the hooked mussel, <i>Ischadium</i><i> </i><i>recurvum</i><i>,</i><i> </i>and eastern oyster, <i>Crassostrea virginica</i><i>,</i> in field experiments in two Chesapeake Bay, USA tributaries. We conducted a complementary laboratory experiment that tested the impact of short-duration hypoxia on predation of the two bivalve species<i> </i>by the ecologically and commercially important blue crab, <i>Callinectes </i><i>sapidus</i>. Although we did not observe a significant effect of diel-cycling hypoxia on predation in the field, we did observe an effect of short-duration hypoxia in the laboratory. <i>Callinectes </i><i>sapidus</i> exhibited depressed feeding rates and reduced preference for <i>I. </i><i>recurvum</i> in hypoxic conditions. In both field and lab results, we observed a strong preference of predators for <i>I. </i><i>recurvum</i> over <i>C. virginica</i>, indicating that the relatively understudied mussel <i>I. </i><i>recurvum</i> merits greater consideration as a part of estuarine food webs.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/3/87water qualityfood webprey preferencecrassostrea virginicaischadium recurvumcallinectes sapidus
spellingShingle Ellen Neff
Jessica MacGregor
Keryn B. Gedan
Effects of Short-Duration and Diel-Cycling Hypoxia on Predation of Mussels and Oysters in Two Tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay
Diversity
water quality
food web
prey preference
crassostrea virginica
ischadium recurvum
callinectes sapidus
title Effects of Short-Duration and Diel-Cycling Hypoxia on Predation of Mussels and Oysters in Two Tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay
title_full Effects of Short-Duration and Diel-Cycling Hypoxia on Predation of Mussels and Oysters in Two Tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay
title_fullStr Effects of Short-Duration and Diel-Cycling Hypoxia on Predation of Mussels and Oysters in Two Tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Short-Duration and Diel-Cycling Hypoxia on Predation of Mussels and Oysters in Two Tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay
title_short Effects of Short-Duration and Diel-Cycling Hypoxia on Predation of Mussels and Oysters in Two Tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay
title_sort effects of short duration and diel cycling hypoxia on predation of mussels and oysters in two tributaries of the chesapeake bay
topic water quality
food web
prey preference
crassostrea virginica
ischadium recurvum
callinectes sapidus
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/3/87
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