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| Differential predation across urban and rural sites in the white-lined sphinx moth,�Hyles�lineata. |
| Brett Seymoure, L. Miles Horne, Kajaya Pollard, Braulio Sanchez, Elizabeth Field, Oceane Da Cunha. University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States |
In the Anthropocene, organisms contend with numerous anthropic disturbances. Anthropic disturbances concomitantly alter environments, animal behavior, and predator-prey interactions. We aimed to quantify differences in predator-prey dynamics between urban and natural areas across the light cycle in the Chihuahuan Desert. We predicted predation rates of sphinx moths (Hyles lineata) are higher at night in urban sites but higher during daytime in rural sites. Four-hundred artificial paper-winged and clay-bodied models of�H. lineata were deployed in El Paso, TX and remote West Texas. Models were checked during twilight for 72 hours to determine survival.�We found that predation rates did not differ between sites or time, however, we found that the predator communities differed between sites. We conclude that insect survival does not change between urban and rural sites, but the selective pressures on insects are likely different between urban and rural areas. Ultimately, predator-prey dynamics of important ecosystem service providers (i.e. Lepidoptera pollinators) are altered in urban settings, which is alarming as the urban footprint is predicted to grow between 78% and 176% by 2050. |