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Invasive cordgrass modifies wetland trophic function.

Lisa A Levin1, Carlos Neira, Edwin D Grosholz

  • 1Integrative Oceanography Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92093-0218, USA. llevin@ucsd.edu

Ecology
|April 28, 2006
PubMed
Summary
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Invasive Spartina cordgrass in coastal wetlands shifts food webs from algae to detritus. This invasion favors species consuming Spartina detritus, impacting higher trophic levels.

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Marine Biology
  • Invasive Species Research

Background:

  • Vascular plants, particularly invasive cordgrass (Spartina spp.), significantly alter coastal wetland ecosystems globally.
  • Understanding the trophic consequences of these invasions is crucial for predicting ecosystem-level changes and impacts on biodiversity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the trophic consequences of a Spartina hybrid invasion in San Francisco Bay.
  • To document differences in benthic community biomass and trophic structure between invaded and uninvaded sediments.
  • To test the hypothesis that species consuming Spartina detritus are more tolerant to invasion than those consuming algae.

Main Methods:

  • Documented differences in benthic community biomass and trophic structure in invaded versus uninvaded sediments.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Utilized natural abundance stable isotope analyses and mixing models to initially assess infaunal diets.
  • Conducted 15N-labeled Spartina detritus isotopic enrichment experiments on and below the sediment surface in invaded and unvegetated areas.

    • Main Results:

    • The invaded ecosystem exhibited a trophic shift from an algae-based to a detritus-based food web.
    • Capitellid and nereid polychaetes, and oligochaetes, which persist in invaded areas, assimilated 15N from labeled Spartina detritus.
    • Amphipods, bivalves, and other less tolerant taxa consumed primarily surficial algae, as indicated by 13C enrichment experiments.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings support a 'trophic shift' model for ecosystem responses to wetland plant invasion.
    • Spartina invasion alters food web structure by promoting detritivores over algae consumers.
    • This shift may reduce trophic support for higher-level consumers like fish and migratory birds.