Density-Dependent Habitat Selection in a Growing Threespine Stickleback Population
Human-induced eutrophication has increased offspring production in a population of threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus in the Baltic Sea. Here, we experimentally investigated the effects of an increased density of juveniles on behaviours that influence survival and dispersal, and, hence, p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Zoology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/378913 |
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| author | Ulrika Candolin Marita Selin |
| author_facet | Ulrika Candolin Marita Selin |
| author_sort | Ulrika Candolin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Human-induced eutrophication has increased offspring production in a population of threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus in the Baltic Sea. Here, we experimentally investigated the effects of an increased density of juveniles on behaviours that influence survival and dispersal, and, hence, population growth—habitat choice, risk taking, and foraging rate. Juveniles were allowed to choose between two habitats that differed in structural complexity, in the absence and presence of predators and conspecific juveniles. In the absence of predators or conspecifics, juveniles preferred the more complex habitat. The preference was further enhanced in the presence of a natural predator, a perch Perca fluviatilis (behind a transparent Plexiglas wall). However, an increased density of conspecifics relaxed the predator-enhanced preference for the complex habitat and increased the use of the open, more predator-exposed habitat. Foraging rate was reduced under increased perceived predation risk. These results suggest that density-dependent behaviours can cause individuals to choose suboptimal habitats where predation risk is high and foraging rate low. This could contribute to the regulation of population growth in eutrophicated areas where offspring production is high. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0fd67cc23f9e404299a5d1df57663393 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-8477 1687-8485 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Zoology |
| spelling | doaj-art-0fd67cc23f9e404299a5d1df576633932025-02-03T01:10:03ZengWileyInternational Journal of Zoology1687-84771687-84852012-01-01201210.1155/2012/378913378913Density-Dependent Habitat Selection in a Growing Threespine Stickleback PopulationUlrika Candolin0Marita Selin1Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, 00014 Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, 00014 Helsinki, FinlandHuman-induced eutrophication has increased offspring production in a population of threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus in the Baltic Sea. Here, we experimentally investigated the effects of an increased density of juveniles on behaviours that influence survival and dispersal, and, hence, population growth—habitat choice, risk taking, and foraging rate. Juveniles were allowed to choose between two habitats that differed in structural complexity, in the absence and presence of predators and conspecific juveniles. In the absence of predators or conspecifics, juveniles preferred the more complex habitat. The preference was further enhanced in the presence of a natural predator, a perch Perca fluviatilis (behind a transparent Plexiglas wall). However, an increased density of conspecifics relaxed the predator-enhanced preference for the complex habitat and increased the use of the open, more predator-exposed habitat. Foraging rate was reduced under increased perceived predation risk. These results suggest that density-dependent behaviours can cause individuals to choose suboptimal habitats where predation risk is high and foraging rate low. This could contribute to the regulation of population growth in eutrophicated areas where offspring production is high.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/378913 |
| spellingShingle | Ulrika Candolin Marita Selin Density-Dependent Habitat Selection in a Growing Threespine Stickleback Population International Journal of Zoology |
| title | Density-Dependent Habitat Selection in a Growing Threespine
Stickleback Population |
| title_full | Density-Dependent Habitat Selection in a Growing Threespine
Stickleback Population |
| title_fullStr | Density-Dependent Habitat Selection in a Growing Threespine
Stickleback Population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Density-Dependent Habitat Selection in a Growing Threespine
Stickleback Population |
| title_short | Density-Dependent Habitat Selection in a Growing Threespine
Stickleback Population |
| title_sort | density dependent habitat selection in a growing threespine stickleback population |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/378913 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ulrikacandolin densitydependenthabitatselectioninagrowingthreespinesticklebackpopulation AT maritaselin densitydependenthabitatselectioninagrowingthreespinesticklebackpopulation |