Data for: “Increasing availability of palatable prey induces predator‑dependence and increases predation on unpalatable prey”

Data sets use in Hossie et al. 2021 “Increasing availability of palatable prey induces predator‑dependence and increases predation on unpalatable prey” Scientific Reports 11:6763 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-86080-x
Abstract:Understanding
the factors governing predation remains a top priority in ecology. Using a
dragonfly nymph-tadpole system, we experimentally varied predator density, prey
density, and prey species ratio to investigate: (i) whether predator
interference varies between prey types that differ in palatability, (ii)
whether adding alternate prey influences the magnitude of predator
interference, and (iii) whether patterns of prey selection vary according to
the predictions of optimal diet theory. In single-prey foraging trials,
predation of palatable leopard frog tadpoles was limited by prey availability
and predator interference, whereas predation of unpalatable toad tadpoles was
limited by handling time. Adding unpalatable prey did not affect the predator’s
kill rate of palatable prey, but the presence of palatable prey increased the
influence of predator density on the kill rate of unpalatable prey and reduced
unpalatable prey handling time. Prey selection did not change with shifts in
the relative abundance of prey types. Instead, predators selected
easy-to-capture unpalatable prey at low total densities and harder-to-capture
palatable prey at high densities. These results improve our understanding of
generalist predation in communities with mobile prey, and illustrate that
characteristics of the prey types involved govern the extent to which alternate
prey influence the predator’s kill rate.