Bottom-up meets top-down: leaf litter inputs influence predator–prey interactions in wetlands

Stoler, Aaron B.; Relyea, Rick A.

doi:10.1007/s00442-013-2595-x

Cited by 21 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…However, we advise caution in extrapolating these results to other tadpole species, because polyphenolic effects on tadpoles have been found to vary depending on both the litter species of polyphenolic origin and the tadpole species examined (Maerz et al . ; Martin & Blossey ; Stephens, Berven & Tiegs ; Stoler & Relyea ; Earl & Semlitsch ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…). However, spatial subsidies might also influence organisms via indirect top‐down effects, by changing rates of predation or parasitism (Loreau, MOuquet & Holt ; Tylianakis, Didham & Wratten ; Stoler & Relyea ). In addition to serving as an allochthonous food resources to aquatic organisms [a bottom‐up effect (Motomori, Mitsuhashi & Nakano ; Stoler et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…via indirect top-down effects, by changing rates of predation or parasitism (Loreau, MOuquet & Holt 2003;Tylianakis, Didham & Wratten 2004;Stoler & Relyea 2013a). In addition to serving as an allochthonous food resources to aquatic organisms [a bottom-up effect (Motomori, Mitsuhashi & Nakano 2001;Stoler et al 2015)], leaf litter also leaches secondary compounds that might cause direct toxicity to organisms or their parasites (Earl & Semlitsch 2015).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Bottom‐up and trait‐mediated effects of resource quality on amphibian parasitism

Stephens

Altman

Berven

et al. 2016

Journal of Animal Ecology

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Leaf litter subsidies are important resources for aquatic consumers like tadpoles and snails, causing bottom-up effects on wetland ecosystems. Recent studies have shown that variation in litter nutritional quality can be as important as litter quantity in driving these bottom-up effects. Resource subsidies likely also have indirect and trait-mediated effects on predation and parasitism, but these potential effects remain largely unexplored. We generated predictions for differential effects of litter nutrition and secondary polyphenolic compounds on tadpole (Lithobates sylvatica) exposure and susceptibility to Ribeiroia ondatrae, based on ecological stoichiometry and community-ecology theory. We predicted direct and indirect effects on key traits of the tadpole host (rates of growth, development and survival), the trematode parasite (production of the cercaria infective stages) and the parasite's snail intermediate host (growth and reproduction). To test these predictions, we conducted a large-scale mesocosm experiment using a natural gradient in the concentrations of nutrients (nitrogen) and toxic secondary compounds (polyphenolics) of nine leaf litter species. To differentiate between effects on exposure vs. susceptibility to infection, we included multiple infection experiments including one with constant per capita exposure. We found that increased litter nitrogen increased tadpole survival, and also increased cercaria production by the snail intermediate hosts, causing opposing effects on tadpole per capita exposure to trematode infection. Increased litter polyphenolics slowed tadpole development, leading to increased infection by increasing both their susceptibility to infection and the length of time they were exposed to parasites. Based on these results, recent shifts in forest composition towards more nitrogen-poor litter species should decrease trematode infection in tadpoles via density- and trait-mediated effects on the snail intermediate hosts. However, these shifts also involve increased abundance of litter species with high polyphenolic levels, which should increase trematode infection via trait-mediated effects on tadpoles. Future studies will be needed to determine the relative strength of these opposing effects in natural wetland communities. [Correction added after online publication on 5 January 2017: wording changed to 'which should increase trematode infection via trait-mediated effects on tadpoles'.].

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bottom‐up and trait‐mediated effects of resource quality on amphibian parasitism

Stephens

Altman

Berven

et al. 2016

Journal of Animal Ecology

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“…In spring 2014, mesocosms were again inoculated with 1 L of natural wetland water and 5 g of Purina Ò Rabbit Chow approximately 10 days prior to the addition of tadpoles (Stoler & Relyea 2013b). Wood frog and southern leopard frog egg masses were collected from wetlands near the SC study site and only wood frog egg masses were collected in MO (February-March for SC and March-April for MO).…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable isotopes reveal an invasive plant contributes more than native sources to anuran larvae diets

Radanovic

Milanovich

Barrett

et al. 2017

Journal of Freshwater Ecology

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Foraging theory suggests organisms increase their fitness through dietary and energetic choices. In nature, organisms choose to consume balanced optimal diets but as exotic plants invade ecosystems, new foraging options become available. Often these plants have different traits and can negatively affect fitness of foragers by lowering survival or growth due to toxicity. Wetland habitats are highly susceptible to plant invasions which can have negative effects on nutrient cycling. The purpose of this study was to examine whether invasion of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) alters tadpole foraging preference thus potentially impacting their survivorship and fitness. We designed a common garden experiment and utilized stable isotopic signatures to investigate the contribution of purple loosestrife and native hardwood detritus to larval wood frog (Rana sylvatica) and southern leopard frog (Rana sphenocephala) diets. Tadpoles derived a higher percentage of resources from purple loosestrife compared to native hardwood detritus when presented with both options, despite its high concentration of toxic secondary compounds. It is unknown if tadpoles can detect competing fitness signals that may be associated with higher nutrient and toxicity levels in purple loosestrife. Discovering the presence or absence of such signals will promote a greater understanding of selective foraging in changing environments.

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“…Specifically, we monitored and compared macroinvertebrate communities within leaf packs that i) remained wet, ii) underwent drying (i.e., started wet and then dried) and iii) remained dry. We focused on litter fauna because leaf packs occur within intermittent pool beds throughout the year [60] are food and microhabitat for many aquatic and terrestrial macroinvertebrates [68]–[74], and are easily manipulated. Finding that the assemblages of macroinvertebrates inhabiting previously immersed leaf packs were distinct from those of permanently aquatic and permanently terrestrial leaf packs would support the emerging idea [23] that intermittent pool beds are cyclic habitats in which the terrestrial stage, as well as the aquatic stage, is distinct from surrounding habitats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intermittent Pool Beds Are Permanent Cyclic Habitats with Distinct Wet, Moist and Dry Phases

2014

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Recognition that intermittent pools are a single habitat phase of an intermittent pool bed that cycles between aquatic and terrestrial habitat greatly enhances their usefulness for addressing general questions in ecology. The aquatic phase has served as a model system in many ecological studies, because it has distinct habitat boundaries in space and time and is an excellent experimental system, but the aquatic to terrestrial transition and terrestrial phase remain largely unstudied. We conducted a field experiment within six replicate natural intermittent pool beds to explore macroinvertebrate community dynamics during the transition from aquatic to terrestrial habitat and during the terrestrial phase. We monitored and compared macroinvertebrate communities within leaf packs that i) remained wet, ii) underwent drying (i.e., started wet and then dried), and iii) remained dry. Our results show that i) a diverse macroinvertebrate community inhabits all phases of intermittent pool beds, ii) pool drying involves colonization by an assemblage of macroinvertebrates not recorded in permanently terrestrial leaf packs, iii) the community within dried leaf packs remains distinct from that of permanently terrestrial leaf packs for an extended period following drying (possibly until subsequent refilling), and iv) there are likely to be strong spatial and temporal resource linkages between the aquatic and terrestrial communities. The unique environmental characteristics of intermittent pool beds, which repeatedly cycle from aquatic to terrestrial habitat, should continue to make them valuable study systems.

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Bottom-up meets top-down: leaf litter inputs influence predator–prey interactions in wetlands

Cited by 21 publications

References 58 publications

Bottom‐up and trait‐mediated effects of resource quality on amphibian parasitism

Bottom‐up and trait‐mediated effects of resource quality on amphibian parasitism

Stable isotopes reveal an invasive plant contributes more than native sources to anuran larvae diets

Intermittent Pool Beds Are Permanent Cyclic Habitats with Distinct Wet, Moist and Dry Phases

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