Patterns of shell repair in articulate brachiopods indicate size constitutes a refuge from predation

Harper, Elizabeth M.; Peck, Lloyd S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3479-6791; Hendry, Katharine R.. 2009 Patterns of shell repair in articulate brachiopods indicate size constitutes a refuge from predation. Marine Biology, 156 (10). 1993-2000. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1230-1

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1230-1

Abstract/Summary

The cost of overcoming prey defenses relative to the value of internal tissues is a key criterion in predator/prey interactions. Optimal foraging theory predicts: (1) specific sizes of prey will result in the best returns to predators, and (2) there will often be a size at which the cost/benefit balance is low enough to effectively exclude predation. Data presented here on styles of repaired shell damage and size at which injury had been sustained was collected from samples of terebratulide brachiopods from the Antarctic Peninisula (Liothyrella uva), Falkland Islands (Magellania venosa and Terebratella dorsata) and Chile (M. venosa). The predominant form of damage on shells was indicative of predators attacking the valve margins. The modal size for repaired damage was more than 10 mm smaller than the modal size for the overall size distribution in each species and there were no repaired attacks in the largest size classes of any species. These data suggest that size forms a refuge from predation, as would be predicted by optimal foraging theory. The optimal sizes that predators appeared to attack vary between species, as do the sizes that provided a refuge from predation. High levels of multiple repairs (19% of the M. venosa population from the Falkland Islands sampled had 2 or more repairs) suggest that the mortality following attack is low, suggesting that many predators abandon their attacks.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1230-1
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Biodiversity, Functions, Limits and Adaptation from Molecules to Ecosystems
ISSN:	0025-3162
NORA Subject Terms:	Marine Sciences Biology and Microbiology Zoology Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	02 Nov 2010 11:07 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/10981

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1230-1

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Biodiversity, Functions, Limits and Adaptation from Molecules to Ecosystems

ISSN:

0025-3162

NORA Subject Terms:

Marine Sciences
Biology and Microbiology
Zoology
Ecology and Environment

Date made live:

02 Nov 2010 11:07 +0 (UTC)