Cross‐ecosystem effects of terrestrial predators link treefrogs, zooplankton, and aquatic primary production

• DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2377
• Publication Date: 2018-09-28T23:57:40Z
• Authors: Jessica L. Hite; Myra C. Hughey; Karen M. Warkentin; James R. Vonesh
• Keywords: Mesocosm; Trophic cascade; Terrestrial ecosystem; Tadpole (physics)

Abstract Predators can directly or indirectly shape food webs through a combination of consumptive and non‐consumptive effects. Yet, how these effects vary across natural populations their consequences for adjacent ecosystems remains poorly resolved. We examined links between terrestrial predators aquatic on locally abundant amphibian, the red‐eyed treefrog ( Agalychnis callidryas ), which has arboreal eggs (heavily predated by snakes wasps) larvae; embryos escape threats hatching at an earlier age smaller size. Our multi‐site field survey indicates that in populations, relative contributions be substantial remarkably similar. However, mesocosms where we experimentally mimicked predator effects, changes density initial tadpoles carried distinct webs. Density‐dependent growth resulted peak tadpole biomass intermediate densities (reflecting predation), early‐hatched grew 16% faster produced 26% more than late‐hatched counterparts. These size differentially affected zooplankton communities, production stability phytoplankton. Together, results illustrate multiple pathways one ecosystem modulate structure