ABSTRACT
Sublethal predation on non-migratory megafaunal and macrofaunal assemblages at the organismic level has been described in a wide range of autecological studies for six higher taxa over the past 90 years. However, these important data have been virtually absent from synecological discussions of infaunal communities or analyses. This is especially important when considering secondary production, where sublethal predation likely plays a highly significant role.
In this study, I examine 77 species for which investigators have described sublethal predation on non-migratory megafaunal (larger longer-lived but less common) and macrofaunal (small shorter-lived and far more abundant) infaunal invertebrates living in or on soft sediments. The review focuses on the importance of sublethal predation in infaunal assemblages, its effects on the target species and its contributions to higher trophic levels. Most research has been conducted on non-migratory megafauna but a considerable body of data for macrofauna is available. The review presents examples based on (1) observed or documented sublethal predation or regeneration of structures in prey species; (2) analysis based on gut contents of predators; and (3) the wide variety of effects observed in these studies. I also provide (4) examples that provide insight into the substantial importance of sublethal predation on non-migratory megafauna to secondary production. The volume of research conducted varies widely among these topics. The discussion makes clear that, while largely overlooked in previous discussions of ecology and ecosystem dynamics for infaunal ecosystems, sublethal predation is an activity of major importance in the energy dynamics of these ecosystems, especially for non-migratory megafauna and the higher trophic levels that prey on them.
