THE FUNCTIONAL-RESPONSE OF THE PREDATORY POLYCHAETE, HARMOTHOE-SARSI, TO THE AMPHIPOD, PONTOPOREIA-AFFINIS

There was no significant difference in the functional response over the 300-fold range of prey densities that the predator could encounter in the field. Experiments with low initial prey numbers indicated that Harmothoe might reduce its intake when prey density was low and when it had recently ingested prey. Presence of P. affinis might reduce predation on P. femorata, but the predator's functional response is unlikely to contribute to the coexistence of these 2 species. -from Authors