Meeting Abstract

P1-136   -   Implications of prey density on prey capture rate: How does prey availability affect wolf spider foraging rates Adams, OR*; Dell, AI; Frauenheim, KP; Jones, KS; Rhee, RS; Sahai, A; Seymoure, BM; Edward Waters University, Jacksonville, FL; Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO and National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, Alton, IL; Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO ; Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO ; Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO ; Saint Louis University, St Louis, MO; Living Earth Collaborative, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO onecia.adam1908@student.ewc.edu

The interactions between predator and prey are affected by a lot of factors in their specific habitat. One of the factors that has a large impact on the hunting abilities of the predator is prey density. Prey density varies temporally. The more a predator captures prey, the more prey density is reduced. This means that prey density is constantly changing and as it changes, the foraging rate of the predator is predicted to be affected. The rate at which a predator depletes the available prey is important information in predicting prey population numbers. Understanding the implications of prey density on predator behavior is especially important in assessing population and community dynamics. To understand the relationship between prey density and foraging rate, functional response experiments were conducted with wolf spiders (Lycosidae) and fruit flies (Drosophila hydei). These experiments were designed to observe the rate at which a spider is able to capture its first and second prey at different densities or amounts of prey. Fifty-five spiders were run in experimental trials, divided into groups that received 2,3,4,6, 9, 20, 30, and 40 fruit flies, providing a gamut of prey densities that match natural conditions. We video recorded fifteen-minute trials and reported the time of first, second, third and fourth prey capture. The results obtained confirmed that varying prey densities affect successful capture rate. The time taken for first prey capture did not appear to be strongly correlated to the prey density. However, for the second prey capture, the results showed that as prey density decreased, the time taken for prey capture generally increased. As spiders are a primary consumer of pests, both agricultural and medical, it is important to understand the rate at which spiders can control prey densities in their habitats.