Predicting and testing functional responses: An example from a tardigrade–nematode system

Abstract Numerous studies have empirically measured consumer functional responses or theoretically developed response models, but whether these models can quantitatively predict observed data has hardly been tested. We perform such a test for the terrestrial predator–prey system Macrobiotus richtersi (Tardigrada)– Acrobeloides nanus (Nematoda). For two different size classes of A. nanus , we report a functional response as measured in the laboratory and quantitatively compare it to predictions of three models with different degrees of complexity: (1) the disc equation which does not include satiation effects; (2) the steady-state satiation (SSS) equation which assumes a constant level of pr…