Abstract:

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.

Suggested Citation:

Valentine, John F.; Martin, Charles W.; Alford, Scott B.. 2018. Effects of predator density and diversity on trophic interactions of coastal nekton, a mesocosm study from August-October, 2016. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-72q1-eh80

Purpose:

These datasets show the results of an experiment examining effects of predator density and diversity on prey populations. Analysis of these data will examine emergent multiple predator effects and potential effects of environmental factors associated with mesocosms that may translate to differential survival of prey individuals.

Data Parameters and Units:

Datasets attribute information 1. Biodiversity Predator Crab sizes dataset: Treatment: predator treatment described to experimental replicate, 1 Blue Crab - one blue crab as predator in tank; 4 Blue Crab - four blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Killifish / 2 Blue Crab - two Gulf killifish and 2 blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Red Drum / 2 Blue Crab - two red drum and two blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish / 2 Blue Crab - two Gulf toadfish and two blue crabs as predators in tank; 4 Species – one blue crab, one red drum, one Gulf killifish, and one Gulf toadfish as predators in tank. Run: Sequential sets of replicates that were started at the same time. Lower numbers denote replicates that were ran earlier than those with higher numbers. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Tank: Individual tank that the replicate was conducted in. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. CW: Carapace width of individual predator blue crab measured in mm. Recovered: Record of whether or not an individual predator was recovered at the end of an experimental replicate. 2. Biodiversity Predator Gulf Killifish sizes dataset: Treatment: predator treatment described to experimental replicate, 1 Gulf Killifish-one Gulf Killifish as predator in tank; 4 Gulf Killifish – four Gulf Killifish as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Killifish / 2 Blue Crab-two Gulf killifish and 2 blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish / 2 Gulf Killifish -two Gulf toadfish and two Gulf Killifish as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Killifish / 2 Red Drum - two gulf Killifish and two red drum as predators in tank; 4 Species – one blue crab, one red drum, one Gulf killifish, and one Gulf toadfish as predators in tank. Run: Sequential sets of replicates that were started at the same time. Lower numbers denote replicates that were ran earlier than those with higher numbers. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Tank: Individual tank that the replicate was conducted in. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. TL: Total length of individual predator Gulf killifish measured in mm. Recovered: whether or not an individual predator was recovered at the end of an experimental replicate. 3. Biodiversity Predator Gulf Toadfish sizes dataset: Treatment: predator treatment described to experimental replicate, 1 Gulf Toadfish – one Gulf toadfish as predator in tank; 4 Gulf Toadfish – four Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish / 2 Blue Crab – two Gulf toadfish and 2 blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish / 2 Red Drum – two Gulf toadfish and two red drum as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish / 2 Gulf Killifish – two Gulf toadfish and two Gulf Killifish as predators in tank; 4 Species – one blue crab, one red drum, one Gulf killifish, and one Gulf toadfish as predators in tank. Run: Sequential sets of replicates that were started at the same time. Lower numbers denote replicates that were ran earlier than those with higher numbers. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Tank: Individual tank that the replicate was conducted in. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. TL: Total length of individual predator Gulf toadfish measured in mm. Recovered: whether or not an individual predator was recovered at the end of an experimental replicate. 4. Biodiversity Predator Red Drum sizes dataset: Treatment: predator treatment described to experimental replicate, 1 Red Drum – one red drum as predator in tank; 4 Red Drum – four red drum as predators in tank; 2 Red Drum / 2 Blue Crab – two red drum and 2 blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish / 2 Red Drum – two Gulf toadfish and two red drum as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Killifish/2 Red Drum – two Gulf toadfish and two red drum as predators in tank; 4 Species – one blue crab, one red drum, one Gulf killifish, and one Gulf toadfish as predators in tank. Run: Sequential sets of replicates that were started at the same time. Lower numbers denote replicates that were ran earlier than those with higher numbers. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Tank: Individual tank that the replicate was conducted in. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. TL: Total length of individual predator red drum measured in mm. Recovered: whether or not an individual predator was recovered at the end of an experimental replicate. 5. Biodiversity Prey Recovery dataset: Treatment: predator treatment described to experimental replicate, Control – no predators in tank, only prey assemblage; 1 Blue Crab - one blue crab as predator in tank; 4 Blue Crab - four blue crabs as predators in tank; 1 Gulf Killifish – one Gulf killifish as predator in tank; 4 Gulf Killifish – four Gulf killifish as predators in tank; 1 Red Drum – one red drum as predator in tank; 4 Red Drum – four red drum as predator in tank; 1 Gulf Toadfish – one Gulf toadfish as predator in tank; 4 Gulf Toadfish – four Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Killifish / 2 Blue Crab - two Gulf killifish and 2 blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Red Drum / 2 Blue Crab - two red drum and two blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish / 2 Blue Crab - two Gulf toadfish and two blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Red Drum / 2 Gulf Killifish – two red drum and two Gulf killifish as predators in tank; 2 Red Drum / 2 Gulf Toadfish – two red drum and two Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Killifish / 2 Gulf Toadfish – two Gulf Killifish and two Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 4 Species – one blue crab, one red drum, one Gulf killifish, and one Gulf toadfish as predators in tank. Run: Sequential sets of replicates that were started at the same time. Lower numbers denote replicates that were ran earlier than those with higher numbers. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Tank: Individual tank that the replicate was conducted in. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Start Date: Date that the experimental replicate was started. Each replicate was ran for 48 hr. DO: Average dissolved oxygen measured in mg/L of the experimental replicate. DO was measured at the onset and termination of each replicate and each morning and afternoon of the experiment, generating up to 5 measurements per replicate that are listed in the Biodiversity Environmentals worksheet Temperature: Average temperature measured in °C of the experimental replicate. Temperature was measured at the onset and termination of each replicate and each morning and afternoon of the experiment, generating up to 5 measurements per replicate that are listed in the Biodiversity Enivronmentals worksheet. Salinity: Salinity measured in ppt of the experimental replicate. Salinity was measured at the onset of each replicate. Crabs Recovered: Number of juvenile blue crabs used as prey recovered from a replicate. Shrimp Recovered: Number of grass shrimp used as prey recovered from a replicate. Fish Recovered: Number of diamond killifish used as prey recovered from a replicate. Total Recovery: Number of total prey individuals from all prey species recovered from a replicate. This number is the sum of individual prey species recovered (crab, shrimp, fish). 6. Biodiversity Prey Sizes dataset Species of each recovered individual: crab = juvenile blue crab, shrimp = grass shrimp, fish = diamond killifish Run: Sequential sets of replicates that were started at the same time. Lower numbers denote replicates that were ran earlier than those with higher numbers. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Tank: Individual tank that the replicate was conducted in. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Treatment: Predator treatment assigned to each experimental replicate, Control – no predators in tank, only prey assemblage; 1 Gulf Killifish – one Gulf killifish as predator in tank; 4 Gulf Killifish – four Gulf killifish as predators in tank; 1 Blue Crab - one blue crab as predator in tank; 4 Blue Crab - four blue crabs as predators in tank; 1 Gulf Toadfish – one Gulf toadfish as predator in tank; 4 Gulf Toadfish – four Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 1 Red Drum – one red drum as predator in tank; 4 Red Drum – four red drum as predator in tank; 2 Gulf Killifish / 2 Blue Crab - two Gulf killifish and 2 blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Red Drum / 2 Blue Crab - two red drum and two blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish / 2 Blue Crab - two Gulf toadfish and two blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish /2 Red Drum – two red drum and two Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish /2 Gulf Killifish – two Gulf Killifish and two Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 4 Species – one blue crab, one red drum, one Gulf killifish, and one Gulf toadfish as predators in tank. Crab: Size of individual prey recovered from an experimental replicate. Carapace width (mm CW) was recorded for juvenile crabs. Shrimp: Size of individual prey recovered from an experimental replicate. Total length (mm TL) was measured for grass shrimp (tip of rostrum to tip of telson). Fish: Size of individual prey recovered from an experimental replicate. Total length (mm TL) was measured for diamond killifish. **NA in a cell denotes missing measurement of an individual. The individual was present in the experiment, but was accidentally introduced to an experimental tank before a measurement was taken. 7. Biodiversity Recovered Prey Sizes Dataset Species: Species of each recovered individual: crab = juvenile blue crab, shrimp = grass shrimp, fish = diamond killifish Run: Sequential sets of replicates that were started at the same time. Lower numbers denote replicates that were ran earlier than those with higher numbers. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Tank: Individual tank that the replicate was conducted in. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Treatment: Predator treatment assigned to each experimental replicate, Control – no predators in tank, only prey assemblage; 1 Gulf Killifish – one Gulf killifish as predator in tank; 4 Gulf Killifish – four Gulf killifish as predators in tank; 1 Blue Crab - one blue crab as predator in tank; 4 Blue Crab - four blue crabs as predators in tank; 1 Gulf Toadfish – one Gulf toadfish as predator in tank; 4 Gulf Toadfish – four Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 1 Red Drum – one red drum as predator in tank; 4 Red Drum – four red drum as predator in tank; 2 Gulf Killifish / 2 Blue Crab - two Gulf killifish and 2 blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Killifish / 2 Red Drum - two Gulf killifish and 2 red drum as predators in tank; 2 Red Drum / 2 Blue Crab - two red drum and two blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish / 2 Blue Crab - two Gulf toadfish and two blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish /2 Red Drum – two red drum and two Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish /2 Gulf Killifish – two Gulf Killifish and two Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 4 Species – one blue crab, one red drum, one Gulf killifish, and one Gulf toadfish as predators in tank. Size: Size of individual prey recovered from an experimental replicate. Carapace width (mm CW) was recorded for juvenile crabs. Total length (mm TL) was measured for grass shrimp (tip of rostrum to tip of telson) and diamond killifish. **Replicates in which recovered individuals were lost or damaged before measurements could be taken were excluded from this list. 8. Biodiversity Missing Prey Sizes dataset Species: Species of each individual missing at the end of an experimental replicate: crab = juvenile blue crab, shrimp = grass shrimp, fish = diamond killifish Run: Sequential sets of replicates that were started at the same time. Lower numbers denote replicates that were ran earlier than those with higher numbers. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Tank: Individual tank that the replicate was conducted in. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Treatment: Predator treatment assigned to each experimental replicate, Control – no predators in tank, only prey assemblage; 1 Gulf Killifish – one Gulf killifish as predator in tank; 4 Gulf Killifish – four Gulf killifish as predators in tank; 1 Blue Crab - one blue crab as predator in tank; 4 Blue Crab - four blue crabs as predators in tank; 1 Gulf Toadfish – one Gulf toadfish as predator in tank; 4 Gulf Toadfish – four Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 1 Red Drum – one red drum as predator in tank; 4 Red Drum – four red drum as predator in tank; 2 Gulf Killifish / 2 Blue Crab - two Gulf killifish and 2 blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Killifish / 2 Red Drum - two Gulf killifish and 2 red drum as predators in tank; 2 Red Drum / 2 Blue Crab - two red drum and two blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish / 2 Blue Crab - two Gulf toadfish and two blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish /2 Red Drum – two red drum and two Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish /2 Gulf Killifish – two Gulf Killifish and two Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 4 Species – one blue crab, one red drum, one Gulf killifish, and one Gulf toadfish as predators in tank. Size: Size of individual prey missing from an experimental replicate. Carapace width (mm CW) was recorded for juvenile crabs. Total length (mm TL) was measured for grass shrimp (tip of rostrum to tip of telson) and diamond killifish. **Missing prey were recorded by removing recovered measurements from the measurements of all prey used in a replicate (i.e., Missing = Total - Recovered). Replicates in which recovered individuals were lost or damaged before measurements could be taken were excluded from this list. 9. Biodiversity Environmentals Run: Sequential sets of replicates that were started at the same time. Lower numbers denote replicates that were ran earlier than those with higher numbers. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Tank: Individual tank that the replicate was conducted in. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Treatment: Predator treatment assigned to each experimental replicate, Control – no predators in tank, only prey assemblage; 1 Gulf Killifish – one Gulf killifish as predator in tank; 4 Gulf Killifish – four Gulf killifish as predators in tank; 1 Blue Crab - one blue crab as predator in tank; 4 Blue Crab - four blue crabs as predators in tank; 1 Gulf Toadfish – one Gulf toadfish as predator in tank; 4 Gulf Toadfish – four Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 1 Red Drum – one red drum as predator in tank; 4 Red Drum – four red drum as predator in tank; 2 Gulf Killifish / 2 Blue Crab - two Gulf killifish and 2 blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Killifish / 2 Red Drum - two Gulf killifish and 2 red drum as predators in tank; 2 Red Drum / 2 Blue Crab - two red drum and two blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish / 2 Blue Crab - two Gulf toadfish and two blue crabs as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish /2 Red Drum – two red drum and two Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 2 Gulf Toadfish /2 Gulf Killifish – two Gulf Killifish and two Gulf toadfish as predators in tank; 4 Species – one blue crab, one red drum, one Gulf killifish, and one Gulf toadfish as predators in tank. Start.Date: Date that the experimental replicate was started. Each replicate was ran for 48 hr. DO: Individual measurements of dissolved oxygen (DO in mg/L). Up to 5 measurements were taken per experimental replicate. Censor malfunction and maintenance sometimes precluded all 5 measurements from being made, thus there are uneven numbers of measurements per replicate and per treatment. These values were used to calculate the average DO listed for each replicate in the "DO" column in the "Biodiversity Prey Recovery" datasheet. Temp: Individual measurements of temperature (°C). Up to 5 measurements were taken per experimental replicate. Censor malfunction and maintenance sometimes precluded all 5 measurements from being made, thus there are uneven numbers of measurements per replicate and per treatment. These values were used to calculate the average temperature listed for each replicate in the "Temperature" column in the "Biodiversity Prey Recovery" datasheet.

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