Bending the rules: exploitation of allochthonous resources by a top-predator modifies size-abundance scaling in stream food webs.
Ecol Lett
; 21(12): 1771-1780, 2018 Dec.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30257275
ABSTRACT
Body mass-abundance (M-N) allometries provide a key measure of community structure, and deviations from scaling predictions could reveal how cross-ecosystem subsidies alter food webs. For 31 streams across the UK, we tested the hypothesis that linear log-log M-N scaling is shallower than that predicted by allometric scaling theory when top predators have access to allochthonous prey. These streams all contained a common and widespread top predator (brown trout) that regularly feeds on terrestrial prey and, as hypothesised, deviations from predicted scaling increased with its dominance of the fish assemblage. Our study identifies a key beneficiary of cross-ecosystem subsidies at the top of stream food webs and elucidates how these inputs can reshape the size-structure of these 'open' systems.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Cadena Alimentaria
/
Ríos
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Ecol Lett
Año:
2018
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido