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Interactions between two functionally distinct aquatic invertebrate herbivores complicate ecosystem- and
Jo A Werba1, Alexander C Phong1, Lakhdeep Brar1
1Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Peerj
|October 13, 2022
Summary
The zooplankton Daphnia magna enhanced ecosystem resilience to eutrophication. However, its effects varied across different measures, indicating complex interactions in aquatic systems.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Aquatic Ecology
- Ecosystem Resilience
Background:
- Ecosystem resilience, the ability to recover from disturbances, is vital for conservation.
- Functional traits of species influence ecosystem-level resilience.
- Understanding these links is crucial for effective restoration and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate how functional traits of herbivores affect ecosystem resilience.
- To assess the impact of zooplankton (Daphnia magna) and snails (Physa sp.) on resilience following an eutrophication event.
- To examine the relationship between herbivore species and specific ecosystem health indicators.
Main Methods:
- A laboratory experiment simulating eutrophication was conducted.
- Algae were consumed by zooplankton, snails, or both.
- Resilience was measured using seston settlement load, chlorophyll-a, and ammonium concentration.
Main Results:
- Daphnia magna was found to increase overall ecosystem resilience indicators.
- The effect of D. magna was inconsistent across different measures, notably increasing variability in seston settlement.
- Evidence suggests shifts in reproductive strategies and population dynamics due to species interactions.
Conclusions:
- While D. magna shows potential to enhance resilience, its impact is complex and context-dependent.
- Indirect ecological effects and varied response scales complicate simple predictions of trait-ecosystem resilience links.
- Further research is needed to untangle intricate species interactions and their role in ecosystem stability.
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