Journal article
Disease-Driven Amphibian Declines Alter Ecosystem Processes in a Tropical Stream
Ecosystems (New York), v 16(1), pp 146-157
01 Jan 2013
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Predicting the ecological consequences of declining biodiversity is an urgent challenge, particularly in freshwater habitats where species declines and losses are among the highest. Small-scale experiments suggest potential ecosystem responses to losses of species, but definitive conclusions require verification at larger scales. We measured ecosystem metabolism and used whole-ecosystem stable isotope tracer additions to quantify nitrogen cycling in a tropical headwater stream before and after the sudden loss of amphibians to the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Tadpoles are normally dominant grazers in such streams, where greater than 18 species may co-occur and densities often exceed 50 individuals m(-2). Loss of 98% of tadpole biomass corresponded with greater than 2x increases in algae and fine detritus biomass in the stream and a greater than 50% reduction in nitrogen uptake rate. Nitrogen turnover rates in suspended and deposited organic sediments were also significantly lower after the decline. As a consequence, the stream cycled nitrogen less rapidly, and downstream exports of particulate N were reduced. Whole stream respiration was significantly lower following the decline, indicating less biological activity in the stream sediments. Contrary to our predictions, biomass of grazing invertebrates, or any invertebrate functional groups, did not increase over 2 years following loss of tadpoles. Thus, reductions in ecosystem processes linked to the amphibian decline were not compensated for by other, functionally redundant consumers. Declining animal biodiversity has ecosystem-level consequences that may not be offset by ecological redundancy, even in biologically diverse regions such as the Neotropics.
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Details
- Title
- Disease-Driven Amphibian Declines Alter Ecosystem Processes in a Tropical Stream
- Creators
- M. R. Whiles - Southern Illinois University CarbondaleR. O. Hall - University of WyomingW. K. Dodds - Kansas State UniversityP. Verburg - National Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchA. D. Huryn - University of AlabamaC. M. Pringle - University of GeorgiaK. R. Lips - University of Maryland, College ParkS. S. Kilham - Drexel UniversityC. Colon-Gaud - Georgia So Univ, Dept Biol, Statesboro, GA 30460 USAA. T. Rugenski - Southern Illinois University CarbondaleS. Peterson - Southern Illinois University CarbondaleS. Connelly - University of Georgia
- Publication Details
- Ecosystems (New York), v 16(1), pp 146-157
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- 0717741; 0645875 / National Science Foundation; National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- [Retired Faculty]
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000314024900011
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84872869931
- Other Identifier
- 991019167593104721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Ecology