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Predation, resource availability, and community structure in Neotropical water-filled tree holes
1Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, 73019, Norman, OK, USA.
Oecologia
|May 27, 2017
Summary
Predators like odonates and resources such as leaf litter impact tree hole ecosystems. Leaf litter quantity affects species richness over weeks, while predator presence influences it over months.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Aquatic Ecosystems
- Community Structure
Background:
- Predation and resource availability are key drivers of aquatic community structure.
- Water-filled tree holes serve as unique micro-ecosystems for studying ecological interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the independent and interactive effects of predation (odonates) and resource availability (leaf litter) on macroorganism communities in tree holes.
- To determine how these factors influence species richness, abundance, and composition.
Main Methods:
- Field experiments were conducted in natural and artificial tree holes on Barro Colorado Island, Panama.
- Predators (large odonates) and resources (leaf litter) were manipulated through addition and removal.
- Macroorganism species richness, abundance, and composition were assessed.
Main Results:
- Large odonates reduced species richness but not abundance in natural tree holes.
- Leaf litter addition increased richness and abundance, while removal decreased them.
- Predator growth was enhanced by abundant litter; scarce litter reduced degradation rates.
- Mosquito (Culex urichii) and midge (Bezzia snowi) larvae presence was negatively associated with odonate larvae.
Conclusions:
- Both resource availability and predation significantly influence species richness in tree hole ecosystems.
- Resource availability impacts richness on a weekly timescale, following productivity.
- Predation effects on richness may operate over longer timescales, spanning several months.
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