Abstract
The mismatch between the turnover rates of predators and prey is one of the oldest explanations for the existence of inverted trophic pyramids. To date, the hypotheses regarding trophic pyramids have all been based on consumptive trophic links between predators and prey, and the relative contribution of non-consumptive effects is still unknown. In this study, we investigated if the inversion of pyramids in bromeliad ecosystems is driven by (i) a rapid colonization of organisms having short cohort interval production (CPI), and (ii) the prevalence of consumptive or non-consumptive effects of top predators. We used a manipulative experiment to investigate the patterns of prey colonization and to partition the net effects of the dominant predator (damselfly larvae) on biomass pyramids into consumptive (uncaged damselfly larvae) and non-consumptive effects (caged damselfly larvae). Consumptive effects of damselflies strengthened the inversion of trophic pyramids. Non-consumptive effects, however, did not affect the shape of biomass pyramids. Instead, the rapid colonization of organisms with predominantly short CPI sustained the large biomass of top predators found in natural bromeliad ecosystems. Prey colonized bromeliads rapidly, but this high production was never visible as standing stock because damselflies reduce prey densities by more than a magnitude through direct consumption. Our study adds to the growing evidence that there are a variety of possible ways that biomass can be trophically structured. Moreover, we suggest that the strength of biomass pyramids inversion may change with the time of ecological succession as prey communities become more equitable.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank T. N. Bernabé, M. R. Braga, A. Degressi, C. Vieira, G. C. O. Piccoli, G. H. Migliorini, N. A. C. Marino for field assistance; the staff of the “Parque Estadual da Ilha do Cardoso” for the logistic support. P. M. de Omena received fellowship from São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP: 2009/51702-0), “Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior” and Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (CAPES-DFAIT: BEX 8377/12-0), and “Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior” (PNPD-CAPES; 2014/04603-4). G. Q. Romero was supported by the “Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico” (CNPq) research grant, and D.S. Srivastava by Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (Canada) Discovery and Accelerator Grants. This study was also supported by CESAB-FRB as part of the activities of the FunctionalWebs Working Group.
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PMO, DSS, GQR conceived the study. PMO performed the field experiment, insect identification and biomass estimations. PMO, DSS and GQR interpreted the data. PMO wrote the paper with the assistance of DSS and GQR.
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Communicated by Jonathan Shurin.
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de Omena, P.M., Srivastava, D.S. & Romero, G.Q. Consumptive effects and mismatch in predator–prey turnover rates cause inversion of biomass pyramids. Oecologia 190, 159–168 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-019-04394-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-019-04394-0