A laboratory study of preferential predation by the newt Notophthalmus v. viridescens

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Abstract
Experiments were performed to determine if the newt Notophthalmus v. viridescens preferred the amphipod Hyalella over the cladoceran Daphnia under laboratory conditions and how temperature, relative proportion of prey, and total abundance of prey affects prey preference. Experiments demonstrate that Hyalella is the preferred prey at high prey densities but that Daphnia is preferred at low prey densities. Relative density of prey does not affect the preference for Hyalella at high prey density, but reduced temperature eliminates the preference for Hyalella at these high densities. Turbid water reduces the feeding rate.The experimental results can be attributed to hunting behavior of the newt and to size and activity patterns of the prey. The results suggest that the newt is an opportunistic feeder and that prey movement affects numbers of prey eaten.