Warming affects the feeding success of invader and native fish in Iberian streams

Abstract

We experimentally tested the effects of anticipated warmer temperatures on the feeding suc cess of invasive pumpkinseed and chameleon cichlid and the functionally similar Southern Iberian chub. Singly, prey captures by chub and the cichlid were constant but those by pumpkinseed were affected by warming. Moreover, at warmer temperatures, chub captured much less prey in the presence of the cichlid and prey faster in the presence of pumpkinseed than with conspecifics. Warming effects are likely species dependent, and asymmetries in feeding success between species may be enhanced at warmer temper atures to the benefit of warm-water invader