Journal
FRESHWATER SCIENCE
Volume 34, Issue 2, Pages 485-496Publisher
UNIV CHICAGO PRESS
DOI: 10.1086/681095
Keywords
consumer-driven nutrient dynamics; remineralization; nitrogen; phosphorus; biodiversity; ecosystem function
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Funding
- National Science Foundation (NSF) [183-8371]
- Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship [0221658]
- Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Program
- Margaret Paul Graduate Fellowship in the Life Sciences at Cornell University
- Environmental Protection Agency
- University of Oklahoma Graduate School
- Oklahoma University biology department
- NSF [DEB 0717741]
- Society for Freshwater Science Conservation award
- Division Of Graduate Education
- Direct For Education and Human Resources [0221658] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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In terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, organisms directly affect nutrient storage and cycling by sequestering nutrients via growth and remineralizing nutrients via excretion and egestion. Therefore, species introductions and extirpations can profoundly affect nutrient storage and remineralization rates, and present a challenge for conserving ecosystem function in fresh waters. The literature of consumer-driven nutrient dynamics is growing rapidly, but studies of consumer effects on nutrient storage and remineralization across species and among ecosystems are limited. We compared the effects of 3 grazing taxa, nonnative armored catfish in Mexican streams, native mussels in Oklahoma streams, and native tadpoles in Panamanian streams, on nutrient storage and remineralization. We examined interactions among organismal stoichiometry and biomass, nutrient storage, remineralization rates, and ecosystem size across these 3 groups following species decline (tadpoles and mussels) or introduction (armored catfish) to gain a better understanding of organism-specific effects on nutrient dynamics among freshwater ecosystems. Collectively, our results suggest that the ecosystem-level effect of consumer-driven nutrient dynamics is strongly influenced by environmental variables and is taxon specific. Major changes in biomass of stoichiometrically distinctive organisms can lead to subsequent changes in the flux and storage of elements in an ecosystem, but the overall effect of aquatic animals on nutrient dynamics also is determined by discharge and nutrient-limitation patterns in streams and rivers.
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