Habitat complexity influences cascading effects of multiple predators

Ecology
Jonathan H GrabowskiDavid L Kimbro

Abstract

Although multiple predator effects and trophic cascades have both been demonstrated in a wide variety of ecosystems, ecologists have yet to incorporate these studies into an experimental framework that also manipulates a common and likely important factor, spatial heterogeneity. We manipulated habitat complexity, the presence of two top predators (toadfish and blue crabs), and one intermediate predator (mud crabs) to determine whether habitat complexity influences the strength of multiple predator interactions across multiple trophic levels in experimental oyster reef communities. In the absence of toadfish, blue crabs caused significant mud crab mortality. Despite also directly consuming mud crabs, toadfish indirectly benefited this intermediate predator by decreasing blue crab consumption of mud crabs. Toadfish suppression of mud crab foraging activity, and thus decreased mud crab encounters with blue crabs, is likely responsible for this counterintuitive result. Contrary to previous investigations which suggest that more complex habitats reduce interference interactions among predators, reef complexity strengthened emergent multiple predator effects (MPEs) on mud crabs. The degree to which these MPEs cascaded down to benefit...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Dec 15, 2010·Annual Review of Marine Science·Simon F Thrush, Paul K Dayton
Apr 11, 2014·PloS One·James E ByersCharles Y Robertson
Jun 20, 2014·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·A Randall HughesDavid L Kimbro
Oct 18, 2015·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Thomas L Anderson, Raymond D Semlitsch
Oct 9, 2015·Global Change Biology·Elizabeth M P MadinRobert R Warner
Aug 30, 2012·Ecology·Blaine D GriffenJohn Gatto
Jun 10, 2014·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Lauren Krenek, Volker H W Rudolf
May 7, 2014·Ecology Letters·David L KimbroMichael F Piehler
Sep 8, 2015·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Steven P NewmanNicholas V C Polunin
Apr 15, 2016·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Benjamin A Belgrad, Blaine D Griffen
Jun 26, 2015·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Luke F DoddJustin B Ries
Jun 17, 2014·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Paul V R SnelgroveAlf Norkko
Sep 26, 2015·PloS One·Dionyssia A MaselouArgyro A Fantinou
Feb 21, 2018·Oecologia·Jessica L Pruett, Marc J Weissburg
Jul 22, 2019·Oecologia·Brittany M Jellison, Brian Gaylord
Mar 24, 2017·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Geoffrey C TrussellPatrick J Ewanchuk
Oct 27, 2018·Marine Biology·Camilla BertoliniNessa E O'Connor
Jun 28, 2018·Oecologia·M M PalaciosM I McCormick
Apr 5, 2016·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Rachel K GittmanJohn F Bruno
Dec 23, 2020·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·K M FraserG J Edgar
Dec 16, 2020·PloS One·Virginia R Schweiss, Chet F Rakocinski

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