The thesis examines the dynamics of intraguild predation models incorporating adaptive behaviour. The top predator varies its relative consumption of the intermediate consumer and the basal resource. The consumer alters its activity level in response to the threat of predation. Incorporating these adaptive behaviours facilitated three species coexistence, but restricted omnivory by promoting the formation of three species food chains. Model modifications which promoted omnivory also tended to reduce three species coexistence. It is predicted that omnivory should be most common when the intermediate and the basal species are similarly profitable to the predator. The model also predicts two types of omnivory. Strong omnivory occurs when the predator always consumes intermediate amounts of both prey items. Weak omnivory occurs when the predator preys almost exclusively on one prey at most times, but rapidly switches to include the other when the relative abundance of that second prey exceeds a certain level.

The thesis examines the dynamics of intraguild predation models incorporating adaptive behaviour. The top predator varies its relative consumption of the intermediate consumer and the basal resource. The consumer alters its activity level in response to the threat of predation. Incorporating these adaptive behaviours facilitated three species coexistence, but restricted omnivory by promoting the formation of three species food chains. Model modifications which promoted omnivory also tended to reduce three species coexistence. It is predicted that omnivory should be most common when the intermediate and the basal species are similarly profitable to the predator. The model also predicts two types of omnivory. Strong omnivory occurs when the predator always consumes intermediate amounts of both prey items. Weak omnivory occurs when the predator preys almost exclusively on one prey at most times, but rapidly switches to include the other when the relative abundance of that second prey exceeds a certain level.

Insecticidal neonicotinoid seed treatments in agriculture is a common insect pest management strategy. Seed treatments have systemic and residual toxicity, which are effective against target insect pests. However, effects on other arthropod pests is less straightforward. We evaluated the effects of a neonicotinoid seed treatment, thiamethoxam, on two soybean pests, herbivorous two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch) and an omnivore and facultative predator of spider mite eggs, western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande). We used greenhouse and laboratory experiments to evaluate thiamethoxam soybean seed treatments on spider mite densities and thrips omnivorous feeding behavior. Our results suggest seed treatment may encourage spider mite reproduction and influence thrips herbivory over egg predation when both resources are available. Implications of this study highlight the use of thiamethoxam soybean seed treatment as a potential contributor to increased spider mite populations, thrips reduced role as spider mite predator, and increased role as herbivorous pest.

One of the basic questions of concern in mathematical biology is the long-term survival of each species in a set of populations. This question is particularly puzzling for a natural system with omnivory due to the fact that simple mathematical models of omnivory are prone to species extinction. Omnivory is defined as the consumption of resources from more than one trophic level. In this work, we investigate three omnivory models of increasing complexity. We use the notion of permanent coexistence, or permanence, to study the long-term survival of three interacting species governed by a mixture of competition and predation. We show the permanence of our models under certain parameter restrictions and include the biological interpretations of these parameter restrictions. Sensitivity analysis is used to obtain important information about meaningful parameter data collection. Examples are also given that demonstrate the ubiquity of omnivory in natural systems. / Ph. D.

Lagoas costeiras, são corpos de água doce numerosos ao longo da costa brasileira, destacam-se principalmente como habitats para organismos aquáticos. São no entanto acossistemas sujeitos a grandes impactos antrópicos. No presente trabalho foram estudadas quatro lagoas costeiras da Área de Proteção Ambiental Parque das Dunas, em Salvador, Bahia, em dois períodos sazonais, chuvoso e seco, nos quais as lagoas foram comparadas. A comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos foi utilizada como bioindicadora da qualidade ambiental. Dentre os organismos bentônicos, as larvas da família Chironomidae foram as mais frequentes e abundantes, sendo também estudada a dieta das mesmas com o objetivo de conhecer o papel desses organismos na estrutura e dinâmica trófica destas comunidades, através da observação de itens alimentares presentes no conteúdo de seus tubos digestivos. Os resultados da obtidos evidenciaram que as lagoas Vitória, Junco e Camarão tiveram águas com pH ácido, relativamente bem oxigenadas e de condutividade elétrica moderada em ambos os períodos amostrados. A riqueza de táxons foi moderada nas lagoas Vitória e Junco, variando de 13 a 21 táxons, e baixa nas lagoas do Camarão e Negra variando entre 8 e 14 táxons. Em relação à similaridade na composição das comunidades, as lagoas Vitória e do Camarão foram as mais semelhantes (50%), e a lagoa Negra a mais dissimilar (20%). Os indicadores utilizados evidenciaram que todas as lagoas estão perturbadas e necessitando ações de manejo, porém a Lagoa Negra deve ser priorizada quanto a ações de restauração. Em relação à ecologia trófica das larvas da família Chironomidae, os resultados evidenciaram o consumo de diversos itens alimentares como: algas, pequenos invertebrados, matéria orgânica amorfa e detrito particulado inorgânico. De acordo com o modo de alimentação e os itens consumidos, os diferentes táxons foram classificados em quatro grupos tróficos funcionais distintos: os Coletores - catadores detritívoros, o qual abrangeu a maioria dos gêneros de quironomídeos registrados nas lagoas; os Coletores- catadores herbívoros e os Predadores-onívoros, o qual abrangeu todos os gêneros de Tanypodinae e os Fragmentadores. Pode-se concluir que a onivoria é a provável estratégia que permite a coexistência de organismos de diferentes táxons aumentando assim a riqueza das larvas de Chironomidae nas lagoas costeiras avaliadas. / Coastal lakes are numerous freshwater bodies along Brazilian coast, being principally as habitats for the aquatic biota. They are nevertheless subject to great anthropogenic impacts. In the present work four coastal lakes located in the Protection Area of Parque das Dunas, in Salvador, Bahia, in two contrasting seasonal periods, the dry and the rainy periods, in which the lakes were compared. The benthic macro-invertebrates community was used as bio-indicator of environmental quality. Among the benthic organisms the dipteran larvae of the Chironomidae family were the most frequent and abundant. Their diet was also studied aiming to know the role of these organisms in the structure and trophic-dynamics of theses community by the analysis of the food items in their digestive tube. The results obtained have shown that lakes Vitória, Junco and Camarão had acidic, relatively well oxygenated and of moderate electrical conductivity waters in both periods sampled. The richness of taxa was moderate in lakes Vitória and Junco, varying from13 to 21 taxa, and low in lakes Camarão and Negra, varying between 8 and 14 taxa. Regarding the similarity among communities composition, lakes Vitória and Camarão were the most similar (50%), and Lake Negra the most different (20%). The indicators used evidenced that all lakes are under disturbances and require management actions, however, Lake Negra should be the priority for restauration actions. In relation to the trophic ecology of the Chironomidae larvae, the results evidenced the consumption of many food items as: algae, small invertebrates, decomposing organic matter, and particulate inorganic detritus. According to their feeding modes and consumed items the different taxa were classified in four distinct functional trophic groups: Collector-gatherer-detritivores, that comprised most chironomid taxa recorded in the coastal lakes; the Collector-gatherer-herbivores, the Predator-omnivores comprising all genera of the sub-family Tanypodinae and the Shredders. We concluded that probably omnivory is the strategy allowing the co-existence of organisms from many different taxa, being responsible for the richness of Chironomidae in the benthic communities of the studied coastal lakes.

Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 24-30).

Submitted by Jean Medeiros (jeanletras@uepb.edu.br) on 2018-04-12T13:21:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Maysa Pereira Tomé.pdf: 11904267 bytes, checksum: b0b5c1332accda7862833abc1ec7b0e8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Secta BC (secta.csu.bc@uepb.edu.br) on 2018-04-23T20:28:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Maysa Pereira Tomé.pdf: 11904267 bytes, checksum: b0b5c1332accda7862833abc1ec7b0e8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-23T20:28:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Maysa Pereira Tomé.pdf: 11904267 bytes, checksum: b0b5c1332accda7862833abc1ec7b0e8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-02 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The Dermaptera order is composed by species considered generalist predators, much used in the biological control of several insect pests. The earwigs, Euborellia annulipes (Dermaptera: Anisolabididae) is an omnivorous species, considered an important controlling agent for larvae and pupae of boll weevil and other insect pests of economic importance. However, a few studies claim that this earwig is predominantly phytophagous, with the potential to become a secondary pest in protected crops. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine the development and survival of E. annulipes with cotton leaves and/or cotton boll weevil larvae. The experiment was conducted at the Entomology Laboratory of the Embrapa Cotton, municipality of Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil. The experimental design was completely random, with three treatments and 50 replicates. The treatments consisted of nymphs of the earwigs fed with: (1) disc of cotton leaves and water (vegetable diet); (2) third instar larvae of boll weevil and water (animal diet) and (3) larvae of boll weevil, cotton leaf and water (mixed diet). The nymphs of the earwigs were fed 'ad libitum' with one of the three diets mentioned and kept in climatic chambers of type B.O.D. at 25 °C, relative humidity of the 60 ± 10% and 12 hours of the photoperiod until the end of the bioassay. Subsequently, adults of the earwigs were sexed, grouped into couples for copulation and after mating individualized in plastic pots and fed with the three types of diet mentioned and kept in a climatic chamber until death. The survival and duration of each instar and nymphal stage of E. annulipes were determined by recording the interval in days between ecdises, as well as sexual ratio, adult longevity and the following morphometric data: body length, number of antenomers and abdominal segments. The results obtained in this research indicate that only the consumption of vegetable diet by E. annulipes is not enough to meet the nutritional requirements of its immature stages. Nymphs of early stages of development prefer to feed on an animal diet, while the more advanced stages of development and adults prefer to feed on mixed diet, exhibiting zoophytophagous behavior. Nymphs of E. annulipes fed with mixed diet presented higher number of antenomers in the third, fourth and fifth instars, originating a larger number of females. Regardless of the diet consumed, fifth and sixth instars of E. annulipes were longer than the fourth instar adults. / A ordem Dermaptera é composta por espécies consideradas predadoras generalistas, muito utilizadas no controle biológico de diversos insetos-praga. A tesourinha, Euborellia annulipes (Dermaptera: Anisolabididae) é uma espécie onívora, considerada um importante agente controlador de larvas e pupas do bicudo e de outros insetos-praga de importância econômica. No entanto, alguns poucos estudos afirmam que essa tesourinha é predominantemente fitófaga, com potencial de tornar-se praga secundária em cultivos protegidos. Portanto, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o desenvolvimento e a sobrevivência de E. annulipes com folhas de algodão e/ou larvas do bicudo. O experimento foi conduzido no laboratório de Entomologia da Embrapa Algodão, município de Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brasil. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente ao acaso, com três tratamentos e 50 repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de ninfas da tesourinha alimentadas com: (1) disco de folhas de algodão e água (dieta vegetal); (2) larvas de terceiro instar do bicudo e água (dieta animal) e (3) larvas do bicudo, folha de algodão e água (dieta mista). As ninfas da tesourinha foram alimentadas „ad libitum' com uma das três dietas mencionadas e mantidas em câmaras climatizadas do tipo B.O.D. a 25°C, umidade relativa de 60±10% e fotoperíodo de 12 horas até o término do bioensaio. Posteriormente, adultos da tesourinha foram sexados, agrupados em casais para cópula e, depois de acasalados individualizados em potes plásticos e alimentados com os três tipos de dieta mencionados e mantidos em câmara climatizada até a morte. Foram determinadas a sobrevivência e a duração de cada instar e fase ninfal de E. annulipes, registrando-se o intervalo, em dias, entre ecdises, assim como, a razão sexual, longevidade dos adultos e os seguintes dados morfométricos: comprimento do corpo, peso, número de antenômetros e de segmentos abdominais. Os resultados obtidos nesta pesquisa indicam que apenas o consumo de dieta vegetal por E. annulipes não é suficiente para atender as exigências nutricionais de seus estágios imaturos. Ninfas de estágios iniciais de desenvolvimento preferem se alimentar de dieta animal, enquanto os estágios mais avançados de desenvolvimento e os adultos preferem se alimentar de dieta mista, apresentan do comportamento zoofitófago. Ninfas de E. annulipes alimentadas com dieta mista apresentaram maior número de antenômeros nos terceiro, quarto e quinto instares, originando maior número de fêmeas. Independente da dieta consumida, adultos de quinto e sexto instares de E. annulipes foram mais longevos que os de quarto ínstar.

Lagoas costeiras, são corpos de água doce numerosos ao longo da costa brasileira, destacam-se principalmente como habitats para organismos aquáticos. São no entanto acossistemas sujeitos a grandes impactos antrópicos. No presente trabalho foram estudadas quatro lagoas costeiras da Área de Proteção Ambiental Parque das Dunas, em Salvador, Bahia, em dois períodos sazonais, chuvoso e seco, nos quais as lagoas foram comparadas. A comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos foi utilizada como bioindicadora da qualidade ambiental. Dentre os organismos bentônicos, as larvas da família Chironomidae foram as mais frequentes e abundantes, sendo também estudada a dieta das mesmas com o objetivo de conhecer o papel desses organismos na estrutura e dinâmica trófica destas comunidades, através da observação de itens alimentares presentes no conteúdo de seus tubos digestivos. Os resultados da obtidos evidenciaram que as lagoas Vitória, Junco e Camarão tiveram águas com pH ácido, relativamente bem oxigenadas e de condutividade elétrica moderada em ambos os períodos amostrados. A riqueza de táxons foi moderada nas lagoas Vitória e Junco, variando de 13 a 21 táxons, e baixa nas lagoas do Camarão e Negra variando entre 8 e 14 táxons. Em relação à similaridade na composição das comunidades, as lagoas Vitória e do Camarão foram as mais semelhantes (50%), e a lagoa Negra a mais dissimilar (20%). Os indicadores utilizados evidenciaram que todas as lagoas estão perturbadas e necessitando ações de manejo, porém a Lagoa Negra deve ser priorizada quanto a ações de restauração. Em relação à ecologia trófica das larvas da família Chironomidae, os resultados evidenciaram o consumo de diversos itens alimentares como: algas, pequenos invertebrados, matéria orgânica amorfa e detrito particulado inorgânico. De acordo com o modo de alimentação e os itens consumidos, os diferentes táxons foram classificados em quatro grupos tróficos funcionais distintos: os Coletores - catadores detritívoros, o qual abrangeu a maioria dos gêneros de quironomídeos registrados nas lagoas; os Coletores- catadores herbívoros e os Predadores-onívoros, o qual abrangeu todos os gêneros de Tanypodinae e os Fragmentadores. Pode-se concluir que a onivoria é a provável estratégia que permite a coexistência de organismos de diferentes táxons aumentando assim a riqueza das larvas de Chironomidae nas lagoas costeiras avaliadas. / Coastal lakes are numerous freshwater bodies along Brazilian coast, being principally as habitats for the aquatic biota. They are nevertheless subject to great anthropogenic impacts. In the present work four coastal lakes located in the Protection Area of Parque das Dunas, in Salvador, Bahia, in two contrasting seasonal periods, the dry and the rainy periods, in which the lakes were compared. The benthic macro-invertebrates community was used as bio-indicator of environmental quality. Among the benthic organisms the dipteran larvae of the Chironomidae family were the most frequent and abundant. Their diet was also studied aiming to know the role of these organisms in the structure and trophic-dynamics of theses community by the analysis of the food items in their digestive tube. The results obtained have shown that lakes Vitória, Junco and Camarão had acidic, relatively well oxygenated and of moderate electrical conductivity waters in both periods sampled. The richness of taxa was moderate in lakes Vitória and Junco, varying from13 to 21 taxa, and low in lakes Camarão and Negra, varying between 8 and 14 taxa. Regarding the similarity among communities composition, lakes Vitória and Camarão were the most similar (50%), and Lake Negra the most different (20%). The indicators used evidenced that all lakes are under disturbances and require management actions, however, Lake Negra should be the priority for restauration actions. In relation to the trophic ecology of the Chironomidae larvae, the results evidenced the consumption of many food items as: algae, small invertebrates, decomposing organic matter, and particulate inorganic detritus. According to their feeding modes and consumed items the different taxa were classified in four distinct functional trophic groups: Collector-gatherer-detritivores, that comprised most chironomid taxa recorded in the coastal lakes; the Collector-gatherer-herbivores, the Predator-omnivores comprising all genera of the sub-family Tanypodinae and the Shredders. We concluded that probably omnivory is the strategy allowing the co-existence of organisms from many different taxa, being responsible for the richness of Chironomidae in the benthic communities of the studied coastal lakes.

No description available.

Biomanipulation im Sinne einer top-down Steuerung des Nahrungsnetzes wurde in Standgewässern intensiv erforscht und wird als Mittel zur Verbesserung der Wasserqualität bzw. Verringerung der Eutrophierungserscheinungen eingesetzt. Ebenso könnte die Idee der Biomanipulation genutzt werden, um die Eutrophierung in kleinen Fließgewässern zu verringern. Eine Förderung benthischer herbivorer Schlüsselorganismen (z.B. Eintagsfliegenlarven) durch die Reduzierung des Fischfraßdruckes könnte helfen, Algenmassenentwicklungen zu vermeiden. Studien zur Biomanipulation von Nahrungsnetzen in Standgewässern zeigten allerdings eine zunehmende Entwicklung von planktischen invertebraten Räubern bei Abwesenheit planktivorer Fische. Die Bedeutung des Fraßdruckes invertebrater Räuber in fischfreien Fließgewässernahrungsnetzen ist dagegen noch unbekannt. Aufgrund von letalen und subletalen Fischeffekten könnte die Konsumtion räuberischer Invertebraten bei Fischabwesenheit so stark gefördert werden, dass das Ziel der Biomanipulation verfehlt wird. Invertebrate Räuber haben insgesamt einen relativ hohen Anteil an der Biomasse der Benthosgemeinschaft in Fließgewässernahrungsnetzen. Sie könnten somit potentiell einen ähnlichen Fraßdruck wie vertebrate Räuber (z.B. benthivore Fische) auf die unteren trophischen Ebenen ausüben. Auch der Anteil der Omnivorie ist in Fließgewässernahrungsnetzen hoch. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es deshalb, die Bedeutung invertebrater Prädation im Nahrungsnetz eines kleinen Fließgewässers (Gauernitzbach) unter Berücksichtigung der obligaten Räuber sowie des räuberischen Potentials Omnivorer abzuschätzen. Außerdem wurde der Einfluss benthivorer Fische auf die Populationsentwicklung und das Ernährungsverhalten der wichtigsten invertebraten Räuber und Omnivoren untersucht. Dazu wurde ein Bachabschnitt, der mit benthivoren Fischen (Gobio gobio, Barbatula barbatula) besetzt war, mit einem fischfreien Abschnitt über zwei Jahre verglichen. Nach der Identifizierung wichtiger Räuber- und Omnivorenarten anhand ihrer Biomasse und ihrer trophischen Positionen mittels Isotopenanalyse wurde ihr Gesamtfraßdruck abgeschätzt. Invertebrate Prädatoren im Nahrungsnetz des Gauernitzbaches waren Rhyacophila fasciata und Plectrocnemia conspersa (Trichoptera), Isoperla grammatica (Plecoptera) sowie Dugesia gonocephala (Turbellaria). Wichtige Omnivore aufgrund ihrer hohen Biomassen waren Gammarus pulex (Amphipoda) und Hydropsyche spp. (Trichoptera). Anhand eines Mischungsmodells (ISOSOURCE), das auf der Basis der stabilen Isotopensignaturen d13C und d15N die einzelnen Ressourcenanteile einer gemischten Signatur berechnet, konnte das ausgeprägte räuberische Potential der Omnivoren gezeigt werden, da sie einen hohen tierischen Anteil in der Nahrung aufwiesen (20-90 %). Im Nahrungsnetz des Gauernitzbaches waren Omnivore als Räuber damit ebenso bedeutsam wie obligat räuberische Invertebrate. Der Gesamtfraßdruck der invertebraten Räuber und Omnivoren auf die Beuteorganismen (bis 16 g TM m-2 a-1) in der Fischstrecke war höher als der Fraßdruck der benthivoren Fische (~3 g TM m-2 a-1). Dieser Unterschied lag hauptsächlich in höheren täglichen Konsumtionsraten bei ähnlich hohen Biomassen der Invertebraten begründet. Durch die Analyse der stabilen Isotope von Kohlenstoff und Stickstoff konnten die trophischen Beziehungen im Nahrungsnetz des Gauernitzbaches identifiziert werden. Dabei stellten allochthone Kohlenstoffquellen im Frühjahr und Herbst die bedeutendste Ressource für die Primärkonsumenten dar, während autochthone Ressourcen nur im Frühjahr für wenige Herbivore relevant waren. Dies spiegelte sich ebenso in der Nahrung der Omnivoren wider, die neben Organismen hauptsächlich Detritus nutzten. Ebenso zeigten die invertebraten Räuber eine deutliche Abhängigkeit vom allochthonen Kohlenstoff über die Nutzung der Primärkonsumenten. Letale Effekte der Fische auf die räuberischen und omnivoren Populationen im Gauernitzbach fanden hauptsächlich in Abhängigkeit von den bewohnten Habitaten statt. Die Pool-Arten (P. conspersa, D. gonocephala, G. pulex) entwickelten geringere Biomassen in der Fischstrecke, während die Biomassen riffle-bewohnender Invertebraten (R. fasciata, I. grammatica, Hydropsyche spp.) nicht deutlich reduziert wurden. Dabei waren allerdings meist hohe Biomassen in der Fischstrecke weniger stark ausgeprägt als in der fischfreien Strecke. Die Adulten der untersuchten Arten wurden oft stärker letal beeinflusst als die Juvenilstadien. So war die Emergenzproduktion der räuberischen Köcherfliegen und die Abundanz großer und eiertragender Weibchen von G. pulex in der Fischstrecke deutlich verringert. Subletale Effekte der Fische traten im Gauernitzbach in Abhängigkeit von den Ernährungstypen auf. Während die adulten räuberischen Köcherfliegenarten R. fasciata und P. conspersa keine negative Beeinflussung der Fitness und Größe zeigten, emergierte die omnivore Köcherfliege H. instabilis in der Fischstrecke kleiner als in der fischfreien. Außerdem unterschieden sich die Antworten der omnivoren Arten vermutlich aufgrund ihrer unterschiedlichen Lebenszyklen. G. pulex zeigte als ausschließlich aquatisch lebende Art keine subletalen Kosten (unveränderte Fitness) bei Fischanwesenheit wie dies für die omnivore merolimnische Insektenart H. instabilis beobachtet wurde. Die mittlere Fitness der Populationen (gemessen an der Eiproduktion pro Zeit- und Flächeneinheit) war für alle untersuchten invertebraten Räuber und Omnivoren bei Fischanwesenheit deutlich geringer als in der fischfreien Strecke. Für die Räuber (R. fasciata, P. conspersa) und G. pulex waren vermutlich letale Fischeffekte für den geringen Reproduktionserfolg verantwortlich. Dagegen wurde die Fitness der Population von H. instabilis durch die Kombination aus der geringeren individuellen Körpergröße (subletal) und den schwachen letalen Effekten auf die Emergenz reduziert. Der Einfluss der Fische auf die räuberischen Larven von R. fasciata und P. conspersa resultierte in einem Wechsel der Beutezusammensetzung, nicht in der Reduzierung der täglichen Fraßaktivität. Dies war vermutlich auf eine Aktivitätsänderung des Räubers R. fasciata bzw. auf die veränderte Beuteverfügbarkeit für P. conspersa unter Fischeinfluss zurückzuführen. Eine grundsätzliche Verringerung der Fraßaktivität oder der tierischen Anteile in der Nahrung der omnivoren Arten unter dem Einfluss benthivorer Fische wurde nicht festgestellt. Dagegen änderten sich die Relationen der Ressourcen Omnivorer zueinander, so konnte in der fischfreien Strecke eine flexiblere Ressourcennutzung nachgewiesen werden. Die jährliche Gesamtkonsumtion der räuberischen und omnivoren Invertebraten wurde durch die Anwesenheit der benthivoren Fische um 20-50 % reduziert, wofür hauptsächlich fischinduzierte Biomasseänderungen verantwortlich waren. In der fischfreien Strecke konnte dagegen die erhöhte Konsumtion der Invertebraten den fehlenden Fischfraßdruck mehr als kompensieren. Allerdings änderte sich die beutespezifische Konsumtion der Räuber in der fischfreien Strecke durch den verhaltensinduzierten Wechsel in der Beutezusammensetzung. Damit fand ein erhöhter Fraßdruck auf detritusfressende Arten (z.B. Diptera) statt, während die vermuteten Schlüsselarten einer potentiellen Biomanipulation (grazende Eintagsfliegen) in der fischfreien Strecke relativ unbeeinflusst blieben. Da die invertebrate Prädation in Fließgewässern sehr bedeutend sein kann, ist Biomanipulation nur unter Berücksichtigung aller Populationen räuberischer Invertebraten möglich. Nur durch Einstellung einer optimalen (relativ hohen) Biomasse geeigneter benthivorer Fischarten kann eine ausreichende Hemmung der invertebraten Räuber erreicht werden, so dass grazende Arten indirekt profitieren. / Biomanipulation (top-down control of the food webs) in lakes was intensively studied and can today be regarded as an important tool for improvement of the water quality and eutrophication. Similarly, the idea of biomanipulation can be used to reduce eutrophication phenomena in streams. The enhancement of benthic herbivorous key species (e.g. mayflies) by reduction of fish predation pressure could prevent exploding benthic algae biomass. Studies dealing with trophic cascades in lakes suggested that biomass of planktic invertebrate predators is increasing in the absence of planktivorous fish. But until now the importance of invertebrate predation pressure in fishless stream food webs is hardly known. Due to lethal and sublethal fish effects the consumption of predatory invertebrates could be enhanced by the absence of fish to such an extent that biomanipulation could be off target. In general, the proportion of invertebrate predators to the biomass of the benthic community in stream food webs is relatively high. Therefore, invertebrate predation on benthic prey can be as important as vertebrate predation (e.g. by benthivorous fish). Furthermore, omnivory occurs frequently in streams. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to assess the importance of invertebrate predation in a food web of a small stream (Gauernitzbach) including the obligatory predators as well as the predatory potential of omnivores. Furthermore, the impact of benthivorous fish on population dynamics and feeding behaviour of the most important predators and omnivores was studied. Therefore, a reach stocked with benthivorous fish (Gobio gobio, Barbatula barbatula) was compared with an upstream fishless reach over a two-year period. After identification of important predators and omnivores based on their biomass and trophic position by stable isotope analyses their total consumption was estimated. Rhyacophila fasciata and Plectrocnemia conspersa (Trichoptera), Isoperla grammatica (Plecoptera) as well as Dugesia gonocephala (Turbellaria) were the invertebrate predators in the food web of Gauernitzbach. Because of their high biomasses the most important omnivores were Gammarus pulex (Amphipoda) and Hydropsyche spp. (Trichoptera). Using a mixing model (ISOSOURCE) that estimates the proportions of single resources on a mixed signature on the basis of the stable 13C and 15N isotopes, the predatory potential of both omnivores was pronounced by a high animal food proportion (20-90%). In this stream food web the predation impact of omnivores was comparable to this of obligatory predacous invertebrates. The total invertebrate predation pressure (up to 16 g TM m-2 a-1) in the fish reach was higher than the vertebrate predation pressure (~3 g TM m-2 a-1) mainly caused by the higher daily consumption rates and similar biomass compared to fish. Using stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen the trophic pathways in the food web of Gauernitzbach could be identified. The most important resources for primary consumers in spring and autumn were allochthonous carbon sources. Autochtnonous carbon sources were only utilized by a few herbivores in spring. This was also reflected in the food of omnivores which assimilated mainly detritus beside animal material. Similarly, the predators depended distinctly on the allochthonous pathway by feeding primary consumers. Lethal fish effects on the predatory and omnivorous invertebrate populations were mainly depended on their preferred habitats. Pool-dwelling species (P. conspersa, D. gonocephala, G. pulex) showed decreased biomass in the presence of fish. Contrary, the biomass of riffle-dwelling invertebrates (R. fasciata, I. grammatica, Hydropsyche spp.) was not significantly reduced in the fish reach. Thereby, the highest biomass values in the fish reach could not reach the same level as in the fishless reach. Adults of the investigated species were influenced more lethal than the young stages. Hence, the emergence production of the predatory caddisflies and the abundance of the biggest and gravid females of G. pulex were reduced in the fish reach. Sublethal fish effects existed in dependence on the feeding groups of the invertebrates in Gauernitzbach. Whereas the adult predatory caddisflies R. fasciata and P. conspersa did not show disadvantages in fitness and size, the omnivorous caddisfly H. instabilis emerged with smaller size in the fish reach than in the fishless reach. Different responses of both omnivorous species were observed because of their different life cycles. The exclusively aquatic living G. pulex was not influenced sublethal by fish as the merolimnic insect species H. instabilis. The average fitness of population (measured as egg production per unit time and space) of the studied invertebrate predators and omnivores was distinctly reduced in the fish reach compared to the fishless reach. Probably, lethal fish effects were mainly responsible for the low reproductive success of the predatory species (R. fasciata, P. conspersa) and G. pulex. In contrast, the reduction of population fitness of H. instabilis was caused by the reduced individual adult size (sublethal effect) in combination with the weak lethal effect on emergence. The impact of fish on the feeding behaviour of the predatory larvae of R. fasciata and P. conspersa resulted in a switched prey composition, whereas a reduction in the daily feeding activity was not observed. That was supposed because of changes in the activity pattern by the predator R. fasciata or the changed prey availability for P. conspersa in the fish reach. A general reduction in feeding activity or animal food proportion of the omnivores was not assessed in the presence of fish. In contrast, the relations between the resources switched to a more variable utilisation in the fishless reach. The annual total consumption of invertebrate predators and omnivores was decreased by 20-50% in the fish reach, mainly caused by fish induced biomass reduction. The missing fish consumption could be at least balanced by higher invertebrate consumption in the fishless reach. Contrary, the prey specific consumption of invertebrate predators changed by behavioural-induced switch in the prey composition between the stream reaches. Therefore, a higher predation pressure on detritus feeding species (e.g Diptera) was found in the fishless reach, but not on the supposed key species of the potential biomanipulation (e.g. grazing mayflies). Due to the high importance of invertebrate predation in stream food webs, the aim of biomanipulation can only be reached by considering the populations of predatory invertebrates. Controlling the biomass of suitable benthivorous fish to an optimum (relatively high) level could sufficiently reduce the impact of invertebrate predators leading to an indirect enhancement of grazing species.