The effect of size and temperature on the predation of cockles Cerastoderma edule (L.) by the shore crab Carcinus maenas (L.) (original) (raw)
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Abstract
Laboratory studies demonstrated that shore crabs Carcinus maenas (L.) can consume <40 cockles Cerastoderma (= Cardium) edule (L.) per individual · day ‑1. Various predation techniques used by the crabs are reported. The time required to open and consume individual cockles increased exponentially with prey size. Small (<l5-mm shell height), easily broken cockles appeared to be the most profitable in terms of energy acquisition per unit of handling time, the optimal size of prey increasing with predator size. With unlimited prey available, however, crabs selected prey of mean size smaller than these predicted optima, and much below the maximum size they were capable of opening. Feeding rates, both in terms of cockles ingested or energy intake per day, rose steeply with increasing temperature, but the size range of prey consumed remained unchanged. These data strongly suggest that Carcinus maenas is a potentially important predator of small cockles, particularly during the wanner summer months.
Publication:
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Pub Date:
January 1987
DOI:
Bibcode:
Keywords:
- Cerastoderma edule;
- Carcinus maenas;
- Predation;
- Temperature