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Studies on the role of species interactions in community dynamics and diversity have mostly focused on competition and predator-prey interactions, but the possible role of positive interactions between species, i.e. facilitation, is increasingly recognised. A type of facilitation that received little attention is the one that arises indirectly via pathways of direct trophic and competitive interactions...
The dynamics of resource subsidies in small forested streams fluctuate seasonally and reflect donor-controlled linkage between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Here we ask whether and how complex communities adjust their diet in response to the pulses of leaf litter reaching streams every year in autumn. Answers to these questions were sought in a seasonal comparison of the isotopic niches of a...
Understanding trophic interactions of non-native species is a key step in elucidating their ecological role in recently invaded systems. The benthic fish species round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) has successfully established in aquatic systems across the world, with abundances increasing dramatically over relatively short time periods. Though this (at times) voracious benthivore can become an increasingly...
Toucans (Ramphastidae) are mostly frugivorous birds with important links to seed dispersal in the Neotropics. They are less frequently observed to prey upon invertebrates, small vertebrates, and canopy and cavity bird nests. As part of a nest predator study, we created artificial tinamou (Tinamidae) ground-nests and monitored them with camera traps in La Selva Biological Station (Costa Rica) and surrounding...
Deep-sea communities are subject to a growing number of extrinsic pressures, which threaten their structure and function. Here we use carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes to provide new insights into the community structure of a data-poor deep-sea island slope system, the Exuma Sound, the Bahamas. A total of 78 individuals from 16 species were captured between 462m and 923m depth, and exhibited a broad...
To determine the causes, frequency and stability of biotic interactions, ecologists often use field observations to generate networks of interacting species. The challenge is in determining whether unobserved interactions were undetected due to sampling, or whether they truly do not occur. This uncertainty makes it difficult to predict interactions based on ecological mechanisms. By using hierarchical...
Climate change prediction models estimate an increase in the temperature of the planet of about 2 to 5°C by the late 21st century. This increase in temperature is very likely to have a direct impact on living organisms in terrestrial ecosystems, especially plants, and their ectotherm consumers that are already exposed to their upper thermal limits. Although the effects of temperature on the physiology,...
Introduced species can have diverse effects on recipient ecosystems. Here we share observations suggesting the formation of a reciprocally positive interaction, seed dispersal, between an introduced lizard and a native palm. We present evidence that the large arboreal lizard (Anolis equestris), native to the West Indies but well-established in south Florida USA, has a diet dominated by the fruit of...
Interactions between large carnivores and other species may be responsible for impacts that are disproportionately large relative to their density. Context-dependent interactions between species are common but often poorly described. Caution must be expressed in seeing apex predators as ecological saviours because ecosystem services may not universally apply, particularly if inhibited by anthropogenic...
Managing apex predators has become increasingly challenging as their roles in food webs evolve according to interactions with humans, changing societal influences, and expectations. Human engagement with these species is complex and ancient: they have been seen as pests, nuisances and threats; they have instilled fear, concern and even hatred; and they have demonstrably influenced human economic activity...
Proponents of the idea that dingoes protect mid-sized native mammals by suppressing introduced foxes and feral cats often use observations made on either side of Australia's dingo fence for support. However, many mid-sized mammals disappeared around 1900 when dingoes had increased, cats were present but foxes were yet to arrive, and before newly built fences to manage rabbits and dingoes were amalgamated...
Wolves are widely regarded as top-down regulators of prey and trophic cascades in North America. Consequent expectations of biodiversity benefits from canid-driven trophic cascades have driven debate around reintroduction plans for dingoes in south-eastern Australia. The biophysical characteristics of Yellowstone National park predispose that environment to trophic cascades but it is not clear that...
Large carnivores are depicted to shape entire ecosystems through top-down processes. Studies describing these processes are often used to support interventionist wildlife management practices, including carnivore reintroduction or lethal control programs. Unfortunately, there is an increasing tendency to ignore, disregard or devalue fundamental principles of the scientific method when communicating...
The roles of the 37 species in the family Canidae (the dog family), are of great current interest. The Gray Wolf is the largest canid and their roles in food webs are much researched, as are those of Domestic Dogs, Coyotes and Red Foxes. Much less is known about the other canid species and their ecological roles.Here we describe general food web theory and the potential application of network theory...
The roles and functions of top predators have in recent years been an important yet controversial field of biodiversity conservation research. Interrelationships between sympatric species within complex systems can pose enormous challenges for designing studies that gain clear understanding of specific relationships and processes. Teasing out the nature of the relationships is made far more difficult,...
Manipulative experiments are rarely possible with large predatory mammals. However, field manipulations of predatory arthropods are common and could provide general insights into top-predator impacts. For example, observational studies suggest that conserving dingoes might indirectly benefit Australian small mammal populations. This is consistent with the effects of praying mantids in eastern U.S...
Despite some controversy, a wide range of research across multiple taxa have established that carnivores strongly influence prey population dynamics both through direct offtake and indirect risk effects. Because of these powerful top-down effects carnivores can influence ecosystems across multiple trophic levels. Here we discuss research addressing carnivore direct- and indirect effects on prey, and...
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