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Siqueira T, Hawkins CP, Olden JD, Tonkin J, Comte L, Saito VS, Anderson TL, Barbosa GP, Bonada N, Bonecker CC, Cañedo-Argüelles M, Datry T, Flinn MB, Fortuño P, Gerrish GA, Haase P, Hill MJ, Hood JM, Huttunen KL, Jeffries MJ, Muotka T, O'Donnell DR, Paavola R, Paril P, Paterson MJ, Patrick CJ, Perbiche-Neves G, Rodrigues LC, Schneider SC, Straka M, Ruhi A. Understanding temporal variability across trophic levels and spatial scales in freshwater ecosystems. Ecology 2024; 105:e4219. [PMID: 38037301 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
A tenet of ecology is that temporal variability in ecological structure and processes tends to decrease with increasing spatial scales (from locales to regions) and levels of biological organization (from populations to communities). However, patterns in temporal variability across trophic levels and the mechanisms that produce them remain poorly understood. Here we analyzed the abundance time series of spatially structured communities (i.e., metacommunities) spanning basal resources to top predators from 355 freshwater sites across three continents. Specifically, we used a hierarchical partitioning method to disentangle the propagation of temporal variability in abundance across spatial scales and trophic levels. We then used structural equation modeling to determine if the strength and direction of relationships between temporal variability, synchrony, biodiversity, and environmental and spatial settings depended on trophic level and spatial scale. We found that temporal variability in abundance decreased from producers to tertiary consumers but did so mainly at the local scale. Species population synchrony within sites increased with trophic level, whereas synchrony among communities decreased. At the local scale, temporal variability in precipitation and species diversity were associated with population variability (linear partial coefficient, β = 0.23) and population synchrony (β = -0.39) similarly across trophic levels, respectively. At the regional scale, community synchrony was not related to climatic or spatial predictors, but the strength of relationships between metacommunity variability and community synchrony decreased systematically from top predators (β = 0.73) to secondary consumers (β = 0.54), to primary consumers (β = 0.30) to producers (β = 0). Our results suggest that mobile predators may often stabilize metacommunities by buffering variability that originates at the base of food webs. This finding illustrates that the trophic structure of metacommunities, which integrates variation in organismal body size and its correlates, should be considered when investigating ecological stability in natural systems. More broadly, our work advances the notion that temporal stability is an emergent property of ecosystems that may be threatened in complex ways by biodiversity loss and habitat fragmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadeu Siqueira
- Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, Brazil
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Charles P Hawkins
- Department of Watershed Sciences, National Aquatic Monitoring Center, and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Julian D Olden
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jonathan Tonkin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Te Pūnaha Matatini, Centre of Research Excellence in Complex Systems, Bioprotection Aotearoa, Centre of Research Excellence, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lise Comte
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, USA
| | - Victor S Saito
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Thomas L Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois, USA
| | - Gedimar P Barbosa
- Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Núria Bonada
- FEHM-Lab (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
- FEHM-Lab, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Thibault Datry
- INRAE, UR RiverLy, Centre Lyon-Grenoble Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Michael B Flinn
- Hancock Biological Station, Biological Sciences, Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky, USA
| | - Pau Fortuño
- FEHM-Lab (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gretchen A Gerrish
- University of Wisconsin Madison, Center for Limnology-Trout Lake Station, Boulder Junction, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Peter Haase
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Frankfurt, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Matthew J Hill
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK
| | - James M Hood
- Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Translational Data Analytics Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | - Timo Muotka
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Daniel R O'Donnell
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Riku Paavola
- Oulanka Research Station, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Petr Paril
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michael J Paterson
- International Institute for Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area, Kenora, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Michal Straka
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- T.G. Masaryk Water Research Institute p.r.i., Brno Branch Office, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Albert Ruhi
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
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Parvez MT, Lucas MC, Hossain MI, Chaki N, Mohsin ABM, Sun J, Galib SM. Invasive vermiculated sailfin catfish (Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus) has an impact on highly valued native fish species. Biol Invasions 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-023-03012-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
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3
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Ospina‐Bautista F, Srivastava DS, González AL, Sparks JP, Realpe E. Predators override rainfall effects on tropical food webs. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Ospina‐Bautista
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad de Los Andes Bogotá Colombia
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad de Caldas Manizales Colombia
| | - Diane S. Srivastava
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Angélica L. González
- Department of Biology & Center for Computational and Integrative Biology Rutgers The State University of NJ Camden NJ USA
| | - Jed P. Sparks
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary biology Cornell University Ithaca NY USA
| | - Emilio Realpe
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad de Los Andes Bogotá Colombia
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4
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Littlefair JE, Zander A, Sena Costa C, Clare EL. DNA
metabarcoding reveals changes in the contents of carnivorous plants along an elevation gradient. Mol Ecol 2018; 28:281-292. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joanne E. Littlefair
- Department of Biology McGill University Montréal Québec Canada
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Queen Mary University of London London UK
| | - Axel Zander
- Department of Biology Unit of Ecology and Evolution University of Fribourg Fribourg Switzerland
| | - Clara Sena Costa
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Queen Mary University of London London UK
| | - Elizabeth L. Clare
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Queen Mary University of London London UK
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5
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Interactions between predation and disturbances shape prey communities. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2968. [PMID: 29445181 PMCID: PMC5813231 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21219-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecological disturbances are important drivers of biodiversity patterns. Many biodiversity studies rely on endpoint measurements instead of following the dynamics that lead to those outcomes and testing ecological drivers individually, often considering only a single trophic level. Manipulating multiple factors (biotic and abiotic) in controlled settings and measuring multiple descriptors of multi-trophic communities could enlighten our understanding of the context dependency of ecological disturbances. Using model microbial communities, we experimentally tested the effects of imposed disturbances (i.e. increased dilution simulating density-independent mortality as press or pulse disturbances coupled with resource deprivation) on bacterial abundance, diversity and community structure in the absence or presence of a protist predator. We monitored the communities immediately before and after imposing the disturbance and four days after resuming the pre-disturbance dilution regime to infer resistance and recovery properties. The results highlight that bacterial abundance, diversity and community composition were more affected by predation than by disturbance type, resource loss or the interaction of these factors. Predator abundance was strongly affected by the type of disturbance imposed, causing temporary relief of predation pressure. Importantly, prey community composition differed significantly at different phases, emphasizing that endpoint measurements are insufficient for understanding the recovery of communities.
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Trophic isotopic carbon variation increases with pond's hydroperiod: Evidence from an Austral ephemeral ecosystem. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7572. [PMID: 28790380 PMCID: PMC5548932 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08026-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Trophic variation in food web structure occurs among and within ecosystems. The magnitude of variation, however, differs from system to system. In ephemeral pond ecosystems, temporal dynamics are relatively more important than in many systems given that hydroperiod is the ultimate factor determining the presence of an aquatic state. Here, using stable isotopes we tested for changes in trophic chain length and shape over time in these dynamic aquatic ecosystems. We found that lower and intermediate trophic level structure increased over time. We discuss these findings within the context of temporal environmental stability. The dynamic nature of these ephemeral systems seems to be conducive to greater levels of intermediate and lower trophic level diversity, with omnivorous traits likely being advantageous.
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7
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Rosset V, Ruhi A, Bogan MT, Datry T. Do lentic and lotic communities respond similarly to drying? Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Véronique Rosset
- Irstea Lyon; UR MALY. 5 rue de la Doua 69100 Villeurbanne France
| | - Albert Ruhi
- National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC); University of Maryland; Annapolis Maryland 21401 USA
| | - Michael T. Bogan
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment; University of Arizona; 1064 E. Lowell Street Tucson Arizona 85716 USA
| | - Thibault Datry
- Irstea Lyon; UR MALY. 5 rue de la Doua 69100 Villeurbanne France
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8
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Marino NAC, Srivastava DS, MacDonald AAM, Leal JS, Campos ABA, Farjalla VF. Rainfall and hydrological stability alter the impact of top predators on food web structure and function. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2017; 23:673-685. [PMID: 27344007 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Climate change will alter the distribution of rainfall, with potential consequences for the hydrological dynamics of aquatic habitats. Hydrological stability can be an important determinant of diversity in temporary aquatic habitats, affecting species persistence and the importance of predation on community dynamics. As such, prey are not only affected by drought-induced mortality but also the risk of predation [a non-consumptive effect (NCE)] and actual consumption by predators [a consumptive effect (CE)]. Climate-induced changes in rainfall may directly, or via altered hydrological stability, affect predator-prey interactions and their cascading effects on the food web, but this has rarely been explored, especially in natural food webs. To address this question, we performed a field experiment using tank bromeliads and their aquatic food web, composed of predatory damselfly larvae, macroinvertebrate prey and bacteria. We manipulated the presence and consumption ability of damselfly larvae under three rainfall scenarios (ambient, few large rainfall events and several small rainfall events), recorded the hydrological dynamics within bromeliads and examined the effects on macroinvertebrate colonization, nutrient cycling and bacterial biomass and turnover. Despite our large perturbations of rainfall, rainfall scenario had no effect on the hydrological dynamics of bromeliads. As a result, macroinvertebrate colonization and nutrient cycling depended on the hydrological stability of bromeliads, with no direct effect of rainfall or predation. In contrast, rainfall scenario determined the direction of the indirect effects of predators on bacteria, driven by both predator CEs and NCEs. These results suggest that rainfall and the hydrological stability of bromeliads had indirect effects on the food web through changes in the CEs and NCEs of predators. We suggest that future studies should consider the importance of the variability in hydrological dynamics among habitats as well as the biological mechanisms underlying the ecological responses to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A C Marino
- Laboratório de Limnologia, Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, PO Box 68020, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Diane S Srivastava
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - A Andrew M MacDonald
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Juliana S Leal
- Laboratório de Limnologia, Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, PO Box 68020, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Alice B A Campos
- Laboratório de Limnologia, Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, PO Box 68020, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Vinicius F Farjalla
- Laboratório de Limnologia, Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, PO Box 68020, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Laboratorio Internacional en Cambio Global (LINCGlobal)
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9
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Boersma KS, Nickerson A, Francis CD, Siepielski AM. Climate extremes are associated with invertebrate taxonomic and functional composition in mountain lakes. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:8094-8106. [PMID: 27878081 PMCID: PMC5108261 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is expected to increase climate variability and the occurrence of extreme climatic events, with potentially devastating effects on aquatic ecosystems. However, little is known about the role of climate extremes in structuring aquatic communities or the interplay between climate and local abiotic and biotic factors. Here, we examine the relative influence of climate and local abiotic and biotic conditions on biodiversity and community structure in lake invertebrates. We sampled aquatic invertebrates and measured environmental variables in 19 lakes throughout California, USA, to test hypotheses of the relationship between climate, local biotic and environmental conditions, and the taxonomic and functional structure of aquatic invertebrate communities. We found that, while local biotic and abiotic factors such as habitat availability and conductivity were the most consistent predictors of alpha diversity, extreme climate conditions such as maximum summer temperature and dry-season precipitation were most often associated with multivariate taxonomic and functional composition. Specifically, sites with high maximum temperatures and low dry-season precipitation housed communities containing high abundances of large predatory taxa. Furthermore, both climate dissimilarity and abiotic dissimilarity determined taxonomic turnover among sites (beta diversity). These findings suggest that while local-scale environmental variables may predict alpha diversity, climatic variability is important to consider when projecting broad-scale aquatic community responses to the extreme temperature and precipitation events that are expected for much of the world during the next century.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Clinton D. Francis
- Department of Biological SciencesCalifornia Polytechnic State UniversitySan Luis ObispoCAUSA
| | - Adam M. Siepielski
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of ArkansasFayettevilleARUSA
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10
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Zimmer RK, Ferrier GA, Kim SJ, Kaddis CS, Zimmer CA, Loo JA. A multifunctional chemical cue drives opposing demographic processes and structures ecological communities. Ecology 2016; 97:2232-2239. [PMID: 27859065 PMCID: PMC5116919 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Foundation species provide critical resources to ecological community members and are key determinants of biodiversity. The barnacle Balanus glandula is one such species and dominates space among the higher reaches of wave-swept shores (Northeastern Pacific Ocean). This animal produces a cuticular glycoprotein (named "MULTIFUNCin") of 199.6 kDa, and following secretion, a 390 kDa homodimer in native form. From field and lab experiments, we found that MULTIFUNCin significantly induces habitat selection by conspecific larvae, while simultaneously acting as a potent feeding stimulant to a major barnacle predator (whelk, Acanthinucella spirata). Promoting immigration via settlement on the one hand, and death via predation on the other, MULTIFUNCin drives opposing demographic processes toward structuring predator and prey populations. As shown here, a single compound is not restricted to a lone species interaction or sole ecological function. Complex biotic interactions therefore can be shaped by simple chemosensory systems and depend on the multifunctional properties of select bioactive proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard K. Zimmer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Moreton Bay Research Station, Centre for Marine Science, and School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Graham A. Ferrier
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Steven J. Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Catherine S. Kaddis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Cheryl Ann Zimmer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Moreton Bay Research Station, Centre for Marine Science, and School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Joseph A. Loo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- UCLA/DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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11
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Cheng BS, Grosholz ED. Environmental stress mediates trophic cascade strength and resistance to invasion. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brian S. Cheng
- Bodega Marine Laboratory University of California, Davis 2099 Westside Road Bodega Bay California 94923 USA
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of California, Davis One Shields Avenue Davis California 95616 USA
| | - Edwin D. Grosholz
- Bodega Marine Laboratory University of California, Davis 2099 Westside Road Bodega Bay California 94923 USA
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of California, Davis One Shields Avenue Davis California 95616 USA
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12
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Nonconsumptive Effects of Predation and Impaired Chemosensory Risk Assessment on an Aquatic Prey Species. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.1155/2015/894579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Weak levels of acidity impair chemosensory risk assessment by aquatic species which may result in increased predator mortalities in the absence of compensatory avoidance mechanisms. Using replicate populations of wild juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in neutral and acidic streams, we conducted a series of observational studies and experiments to identify differences in behaviours that may compensate for the loss of chemosensory information on predation risk. Comparing the behavioural strategies of fish between neutral and acidic streams may elucidate the influence of environmental degradation on nonconsumptive effects (NCEs) of predation. Salmon in acidic streams are more active during the day than their counterparts in neutral streams, and are more likely to avoid occupying territories offering fewer physical refugia from predators. Captive cross-population transplant experiments indicate that at equal densities, salmon in acidic streams do not demonstrate relative decreases in growth rate as a result of their different behavioural strategies. Instead, altering diel activity patterns to maximize visual information use and occupying relatively safer territories appear sufficient to offset increased predation risk in acidic streams. Additional strategies such as elevated foraging rates during active periods or adopting riskier foraging tactics are necessary to account for the observed similarities in growth rates.
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13
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Milanovich JR, Hopton ME. Stoichiometry of a semi-aquatic plethodontid salamander: intraspecific variation due to location, size and diet. Integr Zool 2014; 9:613-22. [PMID: 25236804 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ecological stoichiometry provides a framework to investigate an organism's relationship to nutrient cycles. An organism's stoichiometry is thought to constrain its contribution to nutrient cycles (recycling or storage), and to limit its growth and reproduction. Factors that influence the stoichiometry of a consumer are largely unstudied, but what is known is that consumer stoichiometry is influenced by the elemental requirements of the consumer (e.g. for growth, reproduction and cell maintenance) and the availability of elements. We examined whole-body stoichiometry of larval southern two-lined salamanders (Eurycea cirrigera) and described the influence of location, body size, stoichiometry of diet items, and environmental nutrient supply on whole-body stoichiometry. Mean composition of phosphorous was 2.6%, nitrogen was 11.3%, and carbon was 39.6%, which are similar for other aquatic vertebrate taxa. The most significant predictor of whole-body stoichiometry was the site where the samples were collected, which was significant for each nutrient and nutrient ratio. Body size and stoichiometry of diet items were also predictors of Eurycea cirrigera stoichiometry. Our study suggests that spatial differences in environmental nutrient supply have a stronger influence on consumer whole-body stoichiometry among similar-sized larvae compared to life history traits, such as body size or diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Milanovich
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Sustainable Technology Division, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Sustainable Environments Branch, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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