Data and code for: Changes in prey body size differentially reduces predation risk across predator and prey abundances

Trophic interactions underpin the structure of ecological communities by describing the rate at which consumers exploit their resources. The rates at which predators consume their prey are influenced by prey traits, with many species inducing defensive modifications to prey traits following the threat of predation. Here we use different clonal lines of the protist Paramecium being consumed by Stenostomum predators to highlight how differences in prey traits impact rates of predation. Clonal lines differed in their body width traits and in their ability to induce changes in body width. By using a factorial cross of predator and prey abundances for different clonal lines we demonstrate how evolutionary or induced alterations in prey traits can impact the relative threat of predation. Our experiments show how interference among predators impacts predation rate and how increased body width increased predator handling times. Given that reductions in the strength of interspecific interactions..., ,营养相互作用通过描述消费者利用其资源的速率，支撑着生态群落的结构。捕食者捕食猎物的速率受猎物性状的调控，诸多物种可在面临捕食威胁时诱导猎物性状产生防御性修饰。本研究利用旋口虫（Stenostomum）捕食者所捕食的不同克隆系原生生物草履虫（Paramecium），阐明猎物性状差异对捕食速率的影响机制。各克隆系在身体宽度性状以及诱导身体宽度改变的能力上存在显著差异。通过针对不同克隆系设置捕食者与猎物丰度的析因交叉实验，我们证实了猎物性状的进化改变或诱导改变，可对捕食相对风险产生影响。本实验揭示了捕食者间的干扰作用如何影响捕食速率，以及身体宽度增加如何延长捕食者的猎物处理时间。鉴于种间相互作用强度的减弱……