Naslov
What do carabids have for dinner? – revealing the menu list using molecular analyses

Autori
Šerić Jelaska, Lucija ; Vaughan, P. Ian ; Brown, S. Dave ; Symondson, O.C. William

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Book of Abstracts / Saska, P. ; Knapp, M. ; Honek, A. ; Martinkova, Z. - Prag : Crop Research Institute, 2013

Skup
16th European Carabidlologists Meeting

Mjesto i datum
Prag, Češka Republika, 22.09.2013. - 27.09.2013

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
molecular gut content analyses; carabid beetles

Sažetak
Soil food webs are very complex because of high abundance and diversity of invertebrate species, different developmental stages and presence of microscopic and cryptic species. All these can make trophic interactions between soil invertebrates hard to identify. Carabid beetles are important predators in soil ecosystems regulating prey abundance. Data on their prey preferences has mainly been obtained by field observations, or under laboratory conditions and in agricultural fields. In this study we used MGCA (molecular gut content analyses) targeting earthworms, slugs, woodlice, springtails and lepidoptera species as potential prey. We screened carabid species in the forest ecosystem to reveal their diet within the community and to test whether they show prey choice between the seasons in five forest sites. In addition we applied GLMs to analyses the impact of: site ; season ; presence of other prey groups in the gut ; beetles sex and size, on prey consumption. Monte Carlo simulations showed that, in general, earthworms and slugs were being predated in proportion to their densities in the field with little evidence of prey choice except for woodlice that were not among their preferred food. Seasonal differences have been revealed with more slugs consumed in autumn and more woodlice in spring. Also, we analysed relationships between predator size and prey groups, and confirmed that smaller carabids ate springtails more than larger ones. Large carabids had been predating on earthworms more than medium and small ones. MGCA proved to be useful tool to screen the whole community for broad range of prey.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

POVEZANOST RADA