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Comment
. 2008 Sep 30;105(39):14749-50.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.0808033105. Epub 2008 Sep 23.

Predators avoiding predation

Oswald J Schmitz  1
Affiliations
Comment

Predators avoiding predation

Oswald J Schmitz. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. .
No abstract available

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
In the study system (1), lizards of the genus Carina prey on web spiders such as Phonognatha graffei, and both predators prey on other arthropods. (A) When the web spiders do not build refuges, lizards have a strong effect on spider abundance but only a weak effect on arthropods (as indicated by arrow thickness), owing to the lizards' foraging preference for web spiders. This, in turn, means that web spiders will have a weak effect on arthropod prey. Released from control by predators, the many arthropods that are herbivores could become very damaging to plants. (B) When web spiders build refuges, lizards are incapable of lowering spider abundances. As a result, web spiders exert strong control over arthropod prey and may thus reverse the damaging effects of the herbivores.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment on

  • Self-made shelters protect spiders from predation.
    Manicom C, Schwarzkopf L, Alford RA, Schoener TW. Manicom C, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Sep 30;105(39):14903-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0807107105. Epub 2008 Sep 4. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008. PMID: 18772383 Free PMC article.

References

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