Predator-induced plasticity and the temperature dependence of predator-prey activity and population dynamics

Using a mesocosm experiment with dragonfly larvae (predator) and newt larvae (prey), we tested if the predator-induced plasticity alters the elevation or the slope of the thermal reaction norms for locomotor activity metrics in prey. We also estimated the joint predator-prey thermal response in mean velocity, which determines prey encounter rate, and used a biomass-based model to examine the effect of both phenomena on predator-prey population dynamics. <br><br><br>

本研究以蜻蜓幼虫（捕食者）与蝾螈幼虫（猎物）为实验对象，构建中宇宙实验（mesocosm experiment）体系，旨在检验捕食者诱导的表型可塑性（predator-induced plasticity）是否会改变猎物运动活性指标的热反应规范（thermal reaction norms）的高程或斜率。

此外，我们还估算了决定猎物遭遇率（prey encounter rate）的平均速度对应的捕食者-猎物联合热响应，并采用基于生物量的模型（biomass-based model），探究上述两类现象对捕食者-猎物种群动态（predator-prey population dynamics）的影响。