Ocean bottom ecology

Predator-prey relationships were studied between the shrimps Latreutes fucorum and Leander tenuicornis and the predatory fishes Stephanolepis hispidus and Histrio histrio, all found within pelagic Sargassum communities. Average survival times of shrimps were compared in species, size/density, and habitat selection studies. The results showed that S. hispidus had a preference for prey species while H. histrio did not. 30 mm shrimp survived longer than the 10 mm shrimp for both S. hispidus and H. histrio. Density was a factor in the survival times of the 20 mm shrimps with S. hispidus only. L. tenuicornis survived longer in artificial Sargassum habitats with H. histrio. The larger shrimps survived longer in the artificial habitats than the smaller shrimps with S. hispidus. Both fish predators employ optimal foraging strategies with similarities and differences, the latter of which are likely related to behavioral differences in the these predator and prey.