Insect Predation, Prey Defense, and Community Structure

 

W. Wyatt Hoback and Leon G. Higley

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2000, Volume 21

Abstract

Insect predators use one of three general feeding strategies with associated morphologies (mandibles, raptorial forelegs, and unmodified legs) to capture prey. Evolutionarily, species subjected to strong predation pressure may respond by developing defenses (including poison) or by producing more offspring. This exercise examines the interplay between three potential prey species and three insect predator types played by the students. Simulations are conducted over 5 to 10 generations with changes in population size being tracked. In response to foraging, one prey type becomes poisonous, one prey type becomes semi-poisonous, and one prey type remains palatable. To simulate the cost of defense, prey reproduction rate is dependent on the level of prey defense. Co-evolution and predator specialization are simulated by allowing one predator type to adapt to poisonous prey species.

Keywords:  predation, prey defense

University of Nebraska, Lincoln (1999)