Artículo
Substrate size modifies stream grazer–biofilm interactions in the presence of invertivorous fish
Albariño, Ricardo Javier
; Closs, Gerard P.; Matthaei, Christoph; Townsend, Colin R.; Zamorano, Daniel
![Icon](/themes/CONICETDigital/images/conicet.png)
Fecha de publicación:
09/2022
Editorial:
Ecological Society of America
Revista:
Ecology
ISSN:
0012-9658
e-ISSN:
1939-9170
Idioma:
Inglés
Tipo de recurso:
Artículo publicado
Clasificación temática:
Resumen
When herbivore abundance is controlled by predators there may be an indirect positive effect on primary producers due to reduced grazing pressure, but the potential of predation refuges to modify such trophic cascades has rarely been studied. By experimentally manipulating substrate particle size and fish predation regime, we assessed the outcome of invertebrate grazer–biofilm interactions in streams. Locations at the center of larger substrate particles were predicted to pose a higher predation risk, and therefore be subjected to a lower grazing pressure. In our 52-day experiment in a New Zealand stream, small-sized substrates (terracotta tiles) remained virtually free of periphyton across their entire upper surface, whereas a thick periphyton mat was formed across large tiles with only edges remaining free. In channels containing fish (either native Galaxias vulgaris or exotic Salmo trutta), grazing on tiles was lower than in the absence of fish. A preference for grazing near to the edge of tiles was clearest in fish channels but was also evident even in the absence of fish, probably reflecting fish presence and/or fish kairomones in the stream from where the colonizing invertebrates had been derived. Total grazer density was similar across treatments with or without fish, suggesting that our results can be explained mostly by changes in the behavior of grazers. We suggest that refuge availability, interacting with grazer predator-avoidance behavior, may produce a context-dependent patchwork of trophic cascades in streams and other ecosystems.
Archivos asociados
Licencia
Identificadores
Colecciones
Articulos(INIBIOMA)
Articulos de INST. DE INVEST.EN BIODIVERSIDAD Y MEDIOAMBIENTE
Articulos de INST. DE INVEST.EN BIODIVERSIDAD Y MEDIOAMBIENTE
Citación
Albariño, Ricardo Javier; Closs, Gerard P.; Matthaei, Christoph; Townsend, Colin R.; Zamorano, Daniel; Substrate size modifies stream grazer–biofilm interactions in the presence of invertivorous fish; Ecological Society of America; Ecology; 103; 12; 9-2022; 1-15
Compartir
Altmétricas