Dataset for: Numbers, neighbours and hungry predators: what makes chemically defended aposematic prey susceptible to predation?

Many chemically defended aposematic species are characterised by relatively low toxin levels, which enables predators to include them in their diets under certain circumstances. Knowledge of the conditions governing the survival of such prey animals – especially in the context of the co-occurrence of similar but undefended prey, which may result in mimicry-like interactions – is crucial for understanding the initial evolution of aposematism. In a one-month outdoor experiment using fish (the common carp Cyprinus carpio) as predators, we examined the survival of moderately defended aposematic tadpole prey (the European common toad Bufo bufo) with varying absolute densities in single-species prey systems or varying relative densities in two-species prey systems containing morphologically similar but undefended prey (the European common frog Rana temporaria). The density effects were investigated in conjunction with the hunger levels of the predator, which were manipulated by means of the a...诸多具备化学防御能力的警戒色（aposematic）物种，其典型特征为毒素水平相对较低，这使得捕食者可在特定情境下将其纳入自身食谱。阐明调控此类猎物种群生存的条件——尤其是当存在形态相似但无防御能力的猎物共存时，可能形成类拟态的种间互作——对于理解警戒色性状的初始演化进程至关重要。 本研究以鱼类（普通鲤Cyprinus carpio）为捕食者，开展了为期一个月的野外实验，探究中等防御型警戒色猎物（欧洲普通蟾蜍Bufo bufo的蝌蚪）的生存情况：在单物种种群系统中，该猎物的绝对密度设置为不同梯度；在包含形态相似无防御猎物（欧洲普通蛙Rana temporaria）的双物种种群系统中，该猎物的相对密度设置为不同梯度。本研究同时结合了通过……手段调控的捕食者饥饿水平，以探究密度效应的影响。