Salamanders in forest-floor food webs: Invertebrate species composition influences top–down effects

Walton, B. Michael; Tsatiris, Dimitrios; Rivera-Sostre, Mary L.

doi:10.1016/j.pedobi.2006.04.001

Cited by 44 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Only a few studies have indicated that vertebrate predators can have a top-down effect on lower trophic level organisms (Churchfield et al 1991;Wyman 1998;Walton et al 2006;Dunham 2008). One reason for smaller top-down effects of predators in soil is that the effect is diluted due to complexity of foodweb (Scheu and Setala 2002;Wardle 2002;Shurin et al 2006;Walton et al 2006).…”

Section: Effect Of Shrews On Soil Invertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, as moderate fungivory by soil invertebrates encourages the activity of microbes and fungi (Kajak 1997), the decrease in population density of such invertebrate fungivores may decelerate the decomposition of litter due to lowered fungous activity. Furthermore, a salamander species that preys on both of detrivores (isopods and millipedes) and macro-invertebrate predators (spiders), releases fungivores (mites and springtails) from predation by those macro-invertebrates (Wyman 1998;Walton and Steckler 2005;Walton et al 2006). As a result, the effect of the salamander on litter decomposition is not straightforward and seems to depend upon the relative importance of each different pathway in a given circumstance.…”

Section: Effect Of the Shrew On Litter Decompositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The food web of a soil ecosystem on a forest floor is so complex that the effect of predators on lower trophic level organisms is diluted due to multiple factors (Scheu and Setala 2002;Wardle 2002;Walton et al 2006). In addition, one theoretical study proposed that the bottom-up force usually dominates the top-down force in a soil ecosystem (Ponsard et al 2000).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vertebrate predators, such as amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, have been thought to have less an effect on trophic interactions among organisms of forest floor, because the small total biomass and sporadic occurrence of those vertebrates on the forest floor initiate less of a cascading effect on organisms at lower trophic levels (Setala et al 1998). However, some empirical studies suggest that not only macro-invertebrate predators (Kajak 1995;Wise 2004;Miyashita and Niwa 2006) but also mega-vertebrate predators potentially have a trophic cascade effect on soil animals at a lower trophic level and eventually on rates of decomposition and nutrient cycling (Wyman 1998;Rooney et al 2000;Beard et al 2002;Walton et al 2006;Dunham 2008). Thus, it is still worthwhile to investigate the top-down effects of high trophic level vertebrates on soil eco systems.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…So far, there have been only several experiments conducted to evaluate the top-down effect of high tropic level predators in microcosms in laboratories (Walton and Steckler 2005;Walton et al 2006) and mesocosms in the field (Wyman 1998;Wise 2000, 2004). However, the results of those experiments seem to be distorted because the environmental variables were simplified into unnatural conditions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Top-Down Cascade Effects of the Long-Clawed Shrew (Sorex unguiculatus) on the Soil Invertebrate Community in a Cool-Temperate Forest

Namba

Ohdachi

2016

Mammal Study

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In a soil ecosystem, bottom-up control is generally considered more influential than topdown control, although some empirical studies have suggested that predators have a trophic cascade effect on soil animals at lower trophic levels. In the present study, the effects of the long-clawed shrew, a mammalian predator at a high trophic level, on the soil invertebrate community and litter decomposition were investigated in a field experiment using enclosures. In the presence of the shrew, the population densities of earthworms, isopods and spiders tended to decrease, whereas that of large springtails and centipedes appeared to increase. This result might have been caused by the shrew’s direct predation on the former invertebrates and the release from predation by spiders on springtails. The reason of the increase of centipedes was unknown. Shrew had no effects on litter decomposition rates both by litter trap analysis and litter-bag test. The top-down effects of shrews on litter decomposition might have been diluted through a complex food-web and the observing period of the present study might be too short to detect litter decomposition process. Experiment for longer time might demonstrate more explicit effect of the shrew on the soil ecosystem

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Section: Effect Of Shrews On Soil Invertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Effect Of the Shrew On Litter Decompositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Top-Down Cascade Effects of the Long-Clawed Shrew (Sorex unguiculatus) on the Soil Invertebrate Community in a Cool-Temperate Forest

Namba

Ohdachi

2016

Mammal Study

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A metagenomics‐based approach to the top‐down effect on the detritivore food web: a salamanders influence on fungal communities within a deciduous forest

Walker

Lawrence

Esterline

et al. 2014

Ecology and Evolution

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The flow of energy within an ecosystem can be considered either top-down, where predators influence consumers, or bottom-up, where producers influence consumers. Plethodon cinereus (Red-backed Salamander) is a terrestrial keystone predator who feeds on invertebrates within the ecosystem. We investigated the impact of the removal of P. cinereus on the detritivore food web in an upland deciduous forest in northwest Ohio, U.S.A. A total of eight aluminum enclosures, each containing a single P. cinereus under a small log, were constructed in the deciduous forest. On Day 1 of the experiment, four salamanders were evicted from four of the eight enclosures. Organic matter and soil were collected from the center of each enclosure at Day 1 and Day 21. From each sample, DNA was extracted, fungal-specific amplification performed, and 454 pyrosequencing was used to sequence the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region and partial ribosomal large subunit (LSU). Changes in overall fungal community composition or species diversity were not statistically significant between treatments. Statistically significant shifts in the most abundant taxonomic groups of fungi were documented in presence but not absence enclosures. We concluded that P. cinereus does not affect the overall composition or diversity of fungal communities, but does have an impact on specific groups of fungi. This study used a metagenomics-based approach to investigate a missing link among a keystone predator, P. cinereus, invertebrates, and fungal communities, all of which are critical in the detritivore food web.

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Environmental gradients in old‐growth Appalachian forest predict fine‐scale distribution, co‐occurrence, and density of woodland salamanders

Baecher

Richter

2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Woodland salamanders are among the most abundant vertebrate animals in temperate deciduous forests of eastern North America. Because of their abundance, woodland salamanders are responsible for the transformation of nutrients and translocation of energy between highly disparate levels of trophic organization: detrital food webs and high‐order predators. However, the spatial extent of woodland salamanders’ role in the ecosystem is likely contingent upon the distribution of their biomass throughout the forest. We sought to determine if natural environmental gradients influence the fine‐scale distribution and density of Southern Ravine Salamanders (Plethodon richmondi) and Cumberland Plateau Salamanders (P. kentucki). We addressed this objective by constructing occupancy, co‐occurrence, and abundance models from temporally replicated surveys within an old‐growth forest in the Cumberland Plateau region of Kentucky. We found that Plethodon richmondi had a more restricted fine‐scale distribution than P. kentucki (mean occupancy probability [trueψ¯^] = 0.737) and exhibited variable density, from <250 to >1000 individuals per hectare, associated with increased soil moisture and reduced solar exposure due to slope face. While more ubiquitously distributed (trueψ¯^ = 0.95), P. kentucki density varied from <400 to >1,000 individuals per hectare and was inversely related to increased solar exposure from canopy disturbance and landscape convexity. Our data suggest co‐occurrence patterns of P. richmondi and P. kentucki are influenced primarily by abiotic conditions within the forest, and that populations likely occur independently and without evidence of biotic interaction. Given the critical role that woodland salamanders play in the maintenance of forest health, regions that support large populations of woodland salamanders, such as those highlighted in this study—mesic forest stands on north‐to‐east facing slopes with dense canopy and abundant natural cover, may provide enhanced ecosystem services and support the stability of the total forest.

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Salamanders in forest-floor food webs: Invertebrate species composition influences top–down effects

Cited by 44 publications

References 25 publications

Top-Down Cascade Effects of the Long-Clawed Shrew (Sorex unguiculatus) on the Soil Invertebrate Community in a Cool-Temperate Forest

Top-Down Cascade Effects of the Long-Clawed Shrew (Sorex unguiculatus) on the Soil Invertebrate Community in a Cool-Temperate Forest

A metagenomics‐based approach to the top‐down effect on the detritivore food web: a salamanders influence on fungal communities within a deciduous forest

Environmental gradients in old‐growth Appalachian forest predict fine‐scale distribution, co‐occurrence, and density of woodland salamanders

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