Trait variation among populations is important for shaping ecological dynamics. In marine intertidal systems, seawater temperature, low tide emersion temperature, and pH can drive variation in traits and affect species interactions. In western North America, Nucella dogwhelks are intertidal drilling predators of the habitat-forming mussel Mytilus californianus. Nucella exhibit local adaptation, but it is not known to what extent environmental factors and genetic structure contribute to variation in prey selectivity among populations. We surveyed drilled mussels at sites across Oregon and California, USA, and used multiple regression and Mantel tests to test the effects of abiotic factors and Nucella neutral genetic relatedness on the size of mussels drilled across sites. Our results show that Nucella at sites characterized by higher and less variable temperature and pH drilled larger mussels. Warmer temperatures appear to induce faster handling time, and more stable pH conditions may prolong opportunities for active foraging by reducing exposure to repeated stressful conditions. In contrast, there was no significant effect of genetic relatedness on prey size selectivity. Our results emphasize the role of climate in shaping marine predator selectivity on a foundation species. As coastal climates change, predator traits will respond to localized environmental conditions, changing ecological interactions.

中文翻译：

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气候决定了贻贝基础设施强捕食中的种群变化。

种群间的性状变异对于塑造生态动态很重要。在海洋潮间带系统中，海水温度，低潮汐出现温度和pH值可以驱动性状变化并影响物种相互作用。在北美西部，Nucella dog是形成栖息地的贻贝Mytilus californianus的潮间带捕食者。Nucella表现出局部适应性，但尚不清楚环境因素和遗传结构在多大程度上导致了种群间猎物选择性的变化。我们调查了俄勒冈州和美国加利福尼亚州各地的贻贝，并使用多元回归和Mantel测试来测试非生物因子和Nucella中性遗传相关性对各地贻贝大小的影响。我们的结果表明，在以较高和较低的可变温度和pH值为特征的地点，Nucella钻出的贻贝较大。较温暖的温度似乎会导致处理时间缩短，更稳定的pH条件可能会减少暴露于反复的压力条件，从而延长主动觅食的机会。相反，遗传相关性对猎物大小选择性没有显着影响。我们的结果强调了气候在影响基础物种海洋捕食者选择性方面的作用。随着沿海气候的变化，捕食者的性状将对局部环境条件做出反应，从而改变生态相互作用。pH值更稳定，可以减少暴露于反复的压力条件，从而延长主动觅食的机会。相比之下，遗传相关性对猎物大小选择性没有显着影响。我们的结果强调了气候在影响基础物种海洋捕食者选择性方面的作用。随着沿海气候的变化，捕食者的性状将响应局部环境条件，从而改变生态相互作用。pH值更稳定，可以减少暴露于反复的压力条件，从而延长主动觅食的机会。相比之下，遗传相关性对猎物大小选择性没有显着影响。我们的结果强调了气候在影响基础物种海洋捕食者选择性方面的作用。随着沿海气候的变化，捕食者的性状将响应局部环境条件，从而改变生态相互作用。