The brown-world role of insectivores: Frogs reduce plant growth by suppressing detritivores in an alpine meadow

Wu, Xinwei; Zhang, Changbing; Griffin, John N.; Sun, Shucun

doi:10.1016/j.baae.2013.11.004

Cited by 6 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Predators can also connect green and brown worlds via bottom–up forces propagated through plants. Although relatively small (< 2 mm) predators in brown food webs may not initiate bottom–up cascades on plants (Sackett et al ), larger individuals have been shown to either decrease (Wu et al , ) or increase (Sin et al , Zhao et al ) plant biomass (Fig. b).…”

Section: The Brown Worldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking the green and brown worlds through nonconsumptive predator effects

Sitvarin

Rypstra

Harwood

2016

Oikos

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Predators can indirectly aff ect lower trophic levels by either consuming their prey (consumptive eff ect, CE) or by changing the physiology or behavior of their prey (nonconsumptive eff ect, NCE). Cascading eff ects of predators on primary producers are common, and can be propagated by CEs, NCEs, or a combination of both mechanisms.Predator impacts in detrital food webs (the ' brown world ' ) have received considerably less attention than their eff ects on systems with primary producers at the base (the ' green world ' ), and only recently have we begun to appreciate the importance of above-ground predators indirectly impacting below-ground processes.Numerous studies reveal the total impact (CEs and NCEs) of predators in brown food webs, but our understanding of the role of isolated NCEs is limited. Many habitats and major taxa have not been studied, and patterns are diffi cult to distinguish due to frequent reporting of mixed eff ects.Predators play an important role as connectors between brown and green worlds when they feed from both food webs (multichannel feeding). We are only beginning to understand how NCEs infl uence detrital food webs, and it is unknown whether multichannel fear is an essential component of predator -prey ecology that regulates ecosystem function.

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Section: The Brown Worldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking the green and brown worlds through nonconsumptive predator effects

Sitvarin

Rypstra

Harwood

2016

Oikos

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“…Moreover, because generalist predators often stand simultaneously at different trophic positions in different types of food webs (e.g. the studied frogs are involved in predatorpollinator-plant interaction and predator-herbivore-plant interaction as well as predator-detritivore-plant interaction; Wu et al 2014), the net effects of predators on food web stability and ecosystem functioning could be diverse (Knight et al 2006;Romero & Koricheva 2011). Therefore, more studies should be conducted to accurately predict the ecological consequence of predators in nature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The estimated population density of R. kukunoris at this site ranges from 10 to 50 per 100 m 2 in the meadows around ponds during growing seasons (Fellers, Wang, & Liu 2003) but sometimes may reach >4 per m 2 in some particular microhabitats (e.g. the meadows around small pools or around burrows created by local rodents; Wu et al 2014). The large terrestrial core habitat (∼ 1000 m; Dai et al 2005) of R. kukunoris can be far away from the pools where they live as tadpoles for several months.…”

Section: Study Site and Natural Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Frogs are well known as generalist predators in many ecosystems, and their diets include herbivores, pollinators and detritivores (Freed 1980;Beard, Eschtruth, Vogtt, Vogtt, & Scatenat 2003;Wu, Zhang, Griffin, & Sun 2014). In Tibetan alpine meadows, the adults of the frog species Rana kukunoris are widespread and are known to feed upon phytophagous insects such as grasshoppers, potentially reducing proportional leaf damage and enhancing plant reproduction in the meadows.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Net neutral effects of a generalist vertebrate predator on seed production result from simultaneous suppression of plant antagonists and mutualists

Zhao

Peng

et al. 2016

Basic and Applied Ecology

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“…, Wu et al. ). Alternatively, predation can increase soil fertility when predators release bioavailable nutrients through excretion that would have otherwise been immobilized by prey species (Clarholm , Ngai and Srivastava , Hinchliffe et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasion of Hawaiian rainforests by an introduced amphibian predator and N₂‐fixing tree increases soil N₂O emissions

2018

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Invasions of introduced species have homogenized ecological communities worldwide, leading to losses of native species and the services they provide. Some of these invaders substantially alter nutrient cycling, which changes conditions for all other organisms, but less is known about the potential influence of these species on nitrogen (N) trace gas emissions that affect atmospheric processes. We used a natural experiment to explore whether the establishment of an introduced nitrogen (N) fixing tree (Falcataria moluccana) and recent invasion of an amphibian predator, the Caribbean tree frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui), into native Hawaiian rainforests have affected soil emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitric oxide (NO), two atmospherically important trace gases produced by soil microorganisms. Soil N2O and NO emissions and rates of soil N cycling were significantly higher in F. moluccana‐dominated stands compared to native Metrosideros polymorpha (Ohi'a) stands. Additionally, invasion of E. coqui frogs moderately increased soil N2O emissions, primarily in non‐native F. moluccana forests where soil N availability was already elevated. N2O emissions were positively and significantly related to net potential N mineralization, and total N2O+NO fluxes increased with soil nitrate (NO3−) concentration and rates of nitrification. Previous work in these Hawaiian rainforest sites has shown that F. moluccana substantially increases N availability by increasing ecosystem N supply compared to uninvaded stands, and E. coqui accelerates N availability and litter decomposition, although moderately, due to enhanced fluxes of nutrient‐rich waste products. Here, we show that acceleration of nutrient cycling by introduced species can also alter biosphere–atmosphere exchange of N‐oxides.

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The brown-world role of insectivores: Frogs reduce plant growth by suppressing detritivores in an alpine meadow

Cited by 6 publications

References 34 publications

Linking the green and brown worlds through nonconsumptive predator effects

Linking the green and brown worlds through nonconsumptive predator effects

Net neutral effects of a generalist vertebrate predator on seed production result from simultaneous suppression of plant antagonists and mutualists

Invasion of Hawaiian rainforests by an introduced amphibian predator and N₂‐fixing tree increases soil N₂O emissions

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The brown-world role of insectivores: Frogs reduce plant growth by suppressing detritivores in an alpine meadow

Cited by 6 publications

References 34 publications

Linking the green and brown worlds through nonconsumptive predator effects

Linking the green and brown worlds through nonconsumptive predator effects

Net neutral effects of a generalist vertebrate predator on seed production result from simultaneous suppression of plant antagonists and mutualists

Invasion of Hawaiian rainforests by an introduced amphibian predator and N2‐fixing tree increases soil N2O emissions

Contact Info

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Invasion of Hawaiian rainforests by an introduced amphibian predator and N₂‐fixing tree increases soil N₂O emissions