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Connectivity increases trophic subsidies in fragmented landscapes
Christine L Hawn1, John D Herrmann2, Sean R Griffin3
1Geography and Environmental Systems, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Ecology Letters
|September 6, 2018
Summary
Landscape corridors boost prey movement and predator nutrition. This study reveals how corridors facilitate trophic subsidies, enhancing population stability in fragmented habitats.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Landscape Ecology
Background:
- Habitat fragmentation negatively impacts species dispersal and biodiversity.
- Landscape corridors are proposed to mitigate fragmentation effects.
- The precise mechanisms of corridor-mediated metacommunity dynamics remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of landscape corridors in facilitating prey movement.
- To assess the subsequent impact of corridors on predator nutrition via trophic subsidies.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying corridor effects in fragmented ecosystems.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a large-scale fragmentation experiment with enriched plant patches (using 15N).
- Measured nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ15N) in green lynx spiders.
- Compared spider δ15N and body condition in connected versus isolated habitat patches.
Main Results:
- Corridors significantly increased prey species movement between habitat patches.
- Spider δ15N increased by 40% in connected patches, indicating greater intake of enriched prey.
- Corridors improved spider body condition, evidenced by an increased nitrogen-to-carbon ratio.
Conclusions:
- Corridors enhance prey dispersal, leading to indirect nutritional benefits for predators.
- Trophic subsidies represent a novel mechanism by which corridors support connected populations.
- Corridors can increase the stability and size of populations in fragmented landscapes.
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