Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 1993. / Title from title page screen, viewed February 22, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Steven A. Juliano (chair), Scott K. Sakaluk, Douglas W. Whitman, James V. Robinson, Angelo P. Capparella. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-144) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2006. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Scott Creel. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-75).

Mathematical models describing the components of predator-prey interactions are reviewed and evaluated, and new equations representing selected aspects of the relationship are proposed. A model of prey selection that distinguishes between predator performance and prey vulnerability is devised and shown to lead to conclusions that may be qualitatively different from those produced using previous methods. The feeding habits of staghorn sculpins (Leptocottus armatus), the extent to which they utilize estuarine habitats and their predatory response to chum salmon fry (Oncorhynchus keta) are examined for the purposes of (i) ascertaining the factors shaping sculpin foraging behaviour and (ii) assessing their potential for limiting survival of juvenile salmon. During periods of fry migration, sculpin populations in the estuaries of Big Qualicum River, Salmon Creek and Rosewall Creek (on Vancouver Island, B. C.) were composed predominantly of small juveniles less than 80 mm in length. Tolerance to waters of low salinity, which decreased with sculpin size, was found to be the major variable governing residence in these areas. There was little evidence that the migration of fry was important in attracting sculpins to estuaries. Sculpins preyed on a wide diversity of fauna concentrating on benthic crustaceans, particularly the amphipod Eogammarus confervicolus. Juveniles were active throughout the day, but feeding became progressively more restricted to periods of low light intensity as they grew. The smallest that captured fry were 40-45 mm in length. When chum fry were offered to starved sculpins in field enclosures, the response of those less than 80 mm in length was type 2 (Holling 1965) whereas that of 80-99 mm sculpins was type 3 (sigmoid). Predation on fry was inversely related to light intensity from dawn to dusk, and positively correlated with' light levels during the night. When benthic invertebrates were added, sculpins exhibited an overall preference for fry, which were 4-5 times more profitable in terms of net energy intake. However, preference for fry declined markedly as their abundance relative to other prey increased, indicating a divergence from the usual predictions of optimal foraging theory. Capture rates by sculpins initially naive to salmon fry increased up to three-fold over 3-5 two hour trials. It is suggested that the foraging strategy of sculpins given a choice between salmonid fry and benthic invertebrates represents a balance between the requirement of minimizing risk of starvation and the need to evade their own predators (particularly birds). The schooling behaviour of fry requires that sculpins, even when experienced, must devote considerable attention to the attack process and in so doing, run the risk of being eaten themselves. The combined effects of the schooling response, which reduces the incentive to attack fry, and a profusion of alternative prey, which decreases average hunger levels, were thought to be responsible for low fry consumption in natural situations. In Big Qualicum River, an estimated 240,000 and 40,500 chum were captured by sculpins in 1979 and 1980, respectively. This represents corresponding percentages of only 0.51% and 0.06% of the fry populations, and was calculated to be less than one-tenth of the potential that could have been realized. Predation rates on coho fry (0. kisutch) were considerably greater, despite a smaller population size. Estimated consumption was 817,700 (42.97%) and 144,000 (9.09%) in 1979 and 1980. Systems where sculpins could consume higher proportions of chum fry populations were identified as small, shallow, warm estuaries of intermediate to high salinity with relatively few suitable benthic invertebrates and small numbers of fry. Recommendations for reducing sculpin predation in such cases are proposed. Birds, particularly Bonaparte's gulls (Larus Philadelphia), were found to be even more avid predators than sculpins on juvenile salmon in Big Qualicum River. In contrast to sculpins, they exhibited pronounced numerical responses to the appearance of fry in the estuary. An estimated 10-25% of the hatchery-reared chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) and 2-4% of the coho were removed by birds in the years 1979-81. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Predation by large fissipeds is examined using the specific example of the African lion. It is found that the lion is able to adjust its strategy and tactics at each phase of prey capture (search, stalk, attack, and subdue) so as to achieve a consistently high overall capture success with different prey and conditions. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Nature Conservation in the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology / In the Cape Floristic Region the Olifants- Doorn River (ODR) system is a known biodiversity hotspot in terms of endemic freshwater fish. Eight of the 10 described native freshwater fish species are endemic to this river system. One of the main threats to these fish is predation by introduced predatory fishes. Three species of alien invasive black bass (Micropterus salmoides, Micropterus dolomieu and Micropterus punctulatus) were introduced into the ODR system during the 1930s but prior to this study, their distribution and impacts had never been quantified on a system-wide basis. This study aimed to clarify the current distribution, distribution barriers, predatory impact and best management options for black bass in the ODR system. This was achieved by conducting a system-wide survey of 578 km of stream covering 41 tributaries in the ODR system. Black bass presence was tracked upstream within each tributary to its uppermost distribution point where physical barriers preventing further spread were identified and described. Fish species composition, abundance and size were recorded directly above and below these barriers to quantify black bass impact on the native fish. This research demonstrated that since introduction, natural and human assisted dispersal has facilitated not only the establishment of black bass in the Olifants and Doring main streams but also facilitated the invasions into 22 tributaries. Based on survey results it was estimated that 81.5 % of the ODR system that was previously occupied by native cyprinids is now invaded by black bass. Assessments of native fish abundance and size distribution above and below black bass invasion barriers demonstrated that in invaded tributaries only adults of larger cyprinids (Labeo seeberi, Labeobarbus capensis and Barbus serra) were able to co-occur with black bass species. Smaller fish such as juvenile L. seeberi, L. capensis and B. serra and native minnows (Barbus calidus, Pseudobarbus phlegethon and Barbus anoplus) were absent from the black bass invaded reaches. The findings of this catchment scale study are consistent with findings from other studies in the region. As a result, most native fishes are now restricted to streams above the natural barriers that limit the upstream invasions of black bass. Black bass eradication from invaded reaches is therefore necessary for habitat restoration. Effective eradication will however depend on the presence of barriers to prevent re-invasion from downstream sources. To better understand what constitutes the nature of such barriers, this study characterised the natural barriers that inhibited black bass invasions in 17 tributaries. Natural barriers comprised of 15 waterfalls, two cascades and one chute ranging in height from 0.49 m to 3.5 m with an average vertical drop of 1.21 ± 0.67 m. These findings suggest that black bass have poor jumping abilities and the recommended height of artificial barriers as part of a black bass management program should be between 80 and 100 cm depending on the size of the tributary. As a result, the presence of natural barriers or the construction of artificial barriers to prevent black bass invasions is considered a vital component of native fish conservation projects. Finally, the study assessed the feasibility of black bass eradication from the 22 invaded tributaries in the ODR system based on eight criterion covering aspects of biological, physical, anthropogenic and logistical importance. This assessment showed that effective eradication was most likely only feasible in seven tributaries. Prioritisation of these seven tributaries for black bass eradication based on the threatened status of the resident native species, the land-use in the respective catchments and the tributary length available for rehabilitation indicate that the Breekkrans, Biedouw and Thee Rivers should receive the highest priority.

The logistic Lotka-Volterra predator-prey equations with diffusion based on Luckinbill's experiment with Didinium nasutum as predator and Paramecium aurelia as prey, have been solved numerically along with a third equation to include prey taxis in the system. The effect of taxis on the dynamics of the population has been examined under three different non-uniform initial conditions and four different response functions of predators. The four response functions are Holling Type 2 Response, Beddington Type Response or Holling Type 3 Response, a response function involving predator interference and a modified sigmoid response function. The operator splitting method and forward difference Euler scheme have been used to solve the differential equations. The stability of the solutions has been established for each model using Routh - Hurwitz conditions, variational matrix. This has been further verified through numerical simulations. The numerical solutions have been obtained both with and without prey-taxis coefficient. The effect of bifurcation value of prey-taxis coe�cient on the numerical solution has been examined. It has been observed that as the value of the taxis coefficient is increased significantly from the bifurcation value chaotic dynamics develops for each model. The introduction of diffusion in predator velocity in the system restores it back to normal periodic behaviour. A brief study of coexistence of low population densities both with and without prey-taxis has also been done.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-95). Also available on the World Wide Web.

No description available.