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Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter
Published on: March 12, 2013
Predator driven changes in community structure
1Department of Biology, Cornell College, 52314, Mount Vernon, IA, USA.
Abstract:
The zooplankton community of a small pond changed markedly with temporal variation in predation pressure. Long term changes in zooplankton community structure occurred following the replacement of planktivorous fish by phantom midge (Chaoborus americanus) larvae as the predominant predator of zooplankton. The interannual changes following the establishment of Chaoborus included the apparent or near extinction, of species ill adapted to the new predation pressure and the successful colonization of well adapted species. Seasonal changes in the species composition and size distribution of the zooplankton community correlate with temporal variation in predation intensity associated with temperature-activity patterns of the predator or changes in the stage structure of the predator population.
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