Effects of predator density and diversity on trophic interactions of coastal nekton, a mesocosm study from August-October, 2016

These datasets were generated from mesocosm experiments conducted from August to October 2016 to examine the effects of predator density and diversity on trophic interactions of common coastal fish and crustacean species of the Gulf of Mexico. Four predator species were used in this experiment: red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis), Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta), and adult Atlantic blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). Prey assemblages composed of 3 common prey species: diamond killifish (Fundulus xenicus), juvenile blue crabs (C. sapidus), and grass shrimp (Palaemonetes spp.) were exposed to predator monocultures (single species) ranging from low to high density (1 to 4 individuals, respectively) to test for predator density effects. Prey assemblages were also exposed to predator polycultures composed of 4 individuals from either 2 species or all 4 species to test for effects of predator diversity.