Intraguild processes drive space-use patterns in a large-bodied marine predator community

Interspecific interactions, including predator-prey, intraguild predation (IGP), and competition, may drive distribution and habitat use of predator communities. However, elucidating the relative importance of these interactions in shaping predator distributions is challenging, especially in marine communities comprising highly mobile species. We used individual-based models (IBMs) to predict the habitat distributions of apex predators, intraguild (IG) prey, and prey. We then used passive acoustic telemetry to test these predictions in a subtropical marine predator community consisting of eight elasmobranch (i.e., shark and ray) species in Bimini, The Bahamas. IBMs predicted that prey and IG prey will preferentially select habitats based on safety over resources (food), with stronger selection for safe habitat by smaller prey. Elasmobranch space-use patterns matched these predictions. Species with predator-prey and asymmetrical IGP (between apex and small mesopredators) interactions sho..., Acoustic transmitters (InnovaSea, Canada; V16; battery life 2,435 to 3,650 days; transmission interval: 90–150 s) were surgically implanted into the body cavity of southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus), blacktip (C. limbatus), bull, Caribbean reef, great hammerhead, lemon (Negaprion brevirostris), nurse, and tiger sharks following capture, or attached externally to the base of the first dorsal fin via freediving for some great hammerheads, between April 2014–July 2018 (Guttridge et al., 2017; Smukall et al., 2022; van Zinnicq Bergmann et al., 2022). Bull, great hammerhead, and tiger sharks were considered apex predators (Cortés, 1999). Caribbean reef, adult lemon (males and females >175 and >185 cm PCL, respectively; Feldheim et al. 2014), and nurse sharks were classified as larger mesopredators, while southern stingrays, blacktip, and subadult lemon sharks were considered smaller mesopredators (Cortés, 1999). Sex and morphometrics (sharks: precaudal length, PCL; stingrays: curv..., , # Intraguild processes drive space-use patterns in a large-bodied marine predator community **Abstract** Interspecific interactions, including predator-prey, intraguild predation (IGP), and competition, may drive distribution and habitat use of predator communities. However, elucidating the relative importance of these interactions in shaping predator distributions is challenging, especially in marine communities comprising highly mobile species. We used individual-based models (IBMs) to predict the habitat distributions of apex predators, intraguild (IG) prey, and prey. We then used passive acoustic telemetry to test these predictions in a subtropical marine predator community consisting of eight elasmobranch (i.e., shark and ray) species in Bimini, The Bahamas. IBMs predicted that prey and IG prey will preferentially select habitats based on safety over resources (food), with stronger selection for safe habitat by smaller prey. Elasmobranch space-use patterns matched these predict...# 种内捕食过程驱动大型海洋捕食者群落的空间利用模式 **摘要** 种间相互作用包括捕食-被捕食关系、种内捕食（intraguild predation, IGP）与种间竞争，可能主导捕食者群落的分布与栖息地利用模式。然而，阐明这些相互作用对捕食者分布的相对影响难度极大，尤其是在由高度移动性物种构成的海洋群落中。 本研究借助个体模型（individual-based models, IBMs）预测顶级捕食者、种内猎物（intraguild, IG prey）以及普通猎物的栖息地分布；随后于巴哈马群岛比米尼海域的亚热带海洋捕食者群落中，通过被动声学遥测技术验证上述预测，该群落包含8种软骨鱼纲（elasmobranch）物种，即鲨类与鳐类。 个体模型预测，普通猎物与种内猎物会优先选择安全度高于食物资源的栖息地，且体型更小的猎物对安全栖息地的选择偏好更强。软骨鱼纲物种的空间利用模式与上述预测相符…… 2014年4月至2018年7月期间，研究人员在捕获目标物种后，将声学发射器（加拿大InnovaSea公司，型号V16，电池续航2435~3650天，发射间隔90~150秒）通过外科手术植入南江魟（Hypanus americanus）、黑边鳍真鲨（C. limbatus）、公牛鲨、加勒比礁鲨、双髻鲨、柠檬鲨（Negaprion brevirostris）、铰口鲨以及虎鲨的体腔内；部分双髻鲨则通过自由潜水方式将发射器外置附着于第一背鳍基部（Guttridge et al., 2017; Smukall et al., 2022; van Zinnicq Bergmann et al., 2022）。 根据Cortés（1999）的研究，公牛鲨、双髻鲨与虎鲨被划定为顶级捕食者；加勒比礁鲨、成年柠檬鲨（雄性体长＞175cm尾前长（precaudal length, PCL），雌性体长＞185cm尾前长；Feldheim et al. 2014）以及铰口鲨被归为大型中型捕食者，而南江魟、黑边鳍真鲨以及亚成体柠檬鲨则被划为小型中型捕食者（Cortés, 1999）。研究同时记录了个体性别与形态测量数据（鲨类：尾前长（precaudal length, PCL）；魟类：曲线……）