Rapid evolution of consumptive and non-consumptive predator effects on prey population densities, bioenergetics and stoichiometry

Predators can strongly influence prey populations not only through consumptive effects (CE) but also through non-consumptive effects (NCE) imposed by predation risk. Yet, the impact of NCE on bioenergetic and stoichiometric body contents of prey, traits that are shaping life histories, population and food web dynamics, is largely unknown. Moreover, the degree to which NCE can evolve and can drive evolution in prey populations is rarely studied. A 6-week outdoor mesocosm experiment with Caged-Fish (NCE) and Free-Ranging-Fish (CE and NCE) treatments was conducted to quantify and compare the effects of CE and NCE on population densities, bioenergetic and stoichiometric body contents of Daphnia magna, a keystone species in freshwater ecosystems. We tested for evolution of CE and NCE by using experimental populations consisting of D. magna clones from two periods of a resurrected natural pond population: a pre-fish period without fish and a high-fish period with high predation pressure.  Bot..., A 6-week outdoor mesocosm experiment with Caged-Fish (NCE) and Free-Ranging-Fish (CE and NCE) treatments was conducted to quantify and compare the effects of CE and NCE on population densities, bioenergetic and stoichiometric body contents of Daphnia magna, a keystone species in freshwater ecosystems., , ## ## Title of Dataset

Rapid evolution of consumptive and non-consumptive predator effects on prey population densities, bioenergetics and stoichiometry

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.qbzkh18r5](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.qbzkh18r5)

## ## A brief summary of dataset contents, contextualized in experimental procedures and results

A 6-week outdoor mesocosm experiment with Caged-Fish (NCE) and Free-Ranging-Fish (CE and NCE) treatments was conducted to quantify and compare the effects of CE and NCE on population densities, bioenergetic and stoichiometric body contents of *Daphnia magna*.

The experimental procedures include the outdoor mesocosm culturing period under the three different treatments for 6 weeks, sampling and traits measurements.

The results are: Both Caged-Fish and Free-Ranging-Fish treatments decreased the body size and population densities, especially in *Daphnia* from the high-fish period. Only the Free-Ranging-Fish treatment affected bioenergetic variables, while ...