Data from: Ocean warming increases availability of crustacean prey via riskier behaviour

Marine prey and predators will respond to future climate through
physiological and behavioural adjustments. However, our understanding of
how such direct effects may shift the outcome of predator-prey
interactions is still limited. Here, we investigate the effects of ocean
warming and acidification on foraging behaviour and biomass of a common
prey (shrimps, Palaemon spp.) tested in large mesocosms harbouring natural
resources and habitats. Acidification did not alter foraging behaviour in
prey. Under warming, however, prey showed riskier behaviour by foraging
more actively and for longer time periods, even in the presence of a live
predator. No effects of longer-term exposure to climate stressors were
detected on prey biomass. Our findings suggest that ocean warming may
increase the availability of some prey to predators via a behavioural
pathway (i.e. increased risk-taking by prey), likely by elevating
metabolic demand of prey species.