Observations of predator-prey interaction on dispersal of an oligochaete prey, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri

Clumped patches of the oligochaete, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, were subjected to predation by the leech, Erpobdella punctata to determine how the dispersion pattern might change. Two separate experiments showed that worms left the patch in 39% and 48% greater numbers when the leech predator was present. This suggests that L. hoffmeisteri uses a antipredatory strategy of dispersal rather than clumping.