Nested scales of habitat heterogeneity may independently or synergistically influence faunal interactions. Fragmentation effects (i.e., the breaking apart of landscapes) and edge effects (i.e., ecological differences between edges and interiors of patches, nested within landscapes) are distinct yet related ecological concepts, linked mathematically by the habitat edge-to-area ratio. Our study quantified the separate and interactive effects of fragmentation and edge on predation using temperate seagrass. To assess how predation and generalized consumption were influenced by fragmentation state (i.e., continuous, fragmented), and proximity to edge (i.e., edges, interiors), we used tethering assays with two prey-items: juvenile crabs, Callinectes sapidus, and “squidpops” (dried squid mantle). We also investigated whether faunal densities (a proxy for consumption potential) and temperature (a proxy for a broad suite of seasonal changes) correlated with predation across landscapes. Results showed fragmentation state affected predation (i.e., crab) mortality, yet edge effects did not. Moreover, the directionality of fragmentation effects shifted across a temperature/seasonal gradient. Predation mortality more than doubled in continuous landscapes amidst temperature increases, surpassing initially higher mortality in fragmented landscapes, which did not systematically vary with temperature. This mortality magnitude “flip” matched spatiotemporal trends in faunal densities between continuous and fragmented meadows. Consumption rates of both prey-items increased alongside temperature and neither demonstrated edge effects. However, crabs showed fragmentation effects not seen with squidpops, suggesting differing foraging strategies used by consumers of these prey-items. We conclude that fragmentation and edge effects have dynamic influences on temperate predator–prey interactions, as faunal favorability of habitat heterogeneity can “flip” temporally.

栖息地异质性的嵌套规模可以独立或协同影响动物相互作用。破碎效应（即景观的分裂）和边缘效应（即边缘之间的生态差异，以及嵌套在景观中的斑块内部）是截然不同但又相关的生态概念，在数学上通过栖息地边缘面积比联系在一起。我们的研究量化了使用温带海草的破碎和边缘对捕食的单独和相互作用的影响。为了评估碎片状态（即连续，碎片）和靠近边缘（即边缘，内部）对捕食和普遍消费的影响，我们使用了带有两个猎物的系留测定法：幼蟹，Callinectes sapidus和“乌贼”（鱿鱼干）。我们还调查了动物密度（代表消费潜力）和温度（代表一系列广泛的季节性变化）是否与景观掠食相关。结果表明，碎片状态影响捕食（即蟹）的死亡率，而边缘效应则没有。此外，碎片效应的方向性在温度/季节梯度上变化。随着温度升高，连续性景观中的捕食死亡率增加了一倍以上，超过了零散景观中最初的较高死亡率，而零散景观没有随温度而系统地变化。该死亡率幅度“翻转”与连续草甸和零碎草甸之间动物密度的时空趋势相匹配。两个猎物的消耗率都随着温度的升高而增加，并且都没有显示出边缘效应。但是，螃蟹显示出鱿鱼不可见的破碎效果，表明这些猎物的消费者使用不同的觅食策略。我们得出的结论是，碎片化和边缘效应对温带捕食者与猎物之间的相互作用具有动态影响，因为栖息地异质性的动物偏好可能会暂时“翻转”。