Landscape diversity promotes stable food-web architectures in large rivers

Uncovering relationships between landscape diversity and species interactions is crucial for predicting how ongoing land-use change and homogenization will impact the stability and persistence of communities. However, such connections have rarely been quantified in nature. We coupled high-resolution river sonar imaging with annualized energetic food webs to quantify relationships among habitat diversity, energy flux, and trophic interaction strengths in large-river food-web modules that support the endangered Pallid Sturgeon. Our results demonstrate a clear relationship between habitat diversity and species interaction strengths, with more diverse foraging landscapes containing higher production of prey and a greater proportion of weak and potentially stabilizing interactions. Additionally, rare patches of large and relatively stable river sediments intensified these effects and further reduced interaction strengths by increasing prey diversity. Our findings highlight the importance of landscape characteristics in promoting stabilizing food-web architectures and provide direct relevance for future management of imperilled species in a simplified and rapidly changing world.

Automated summary

Quantifying the relationships between landscape diversity and species interactions is crucial for understanding the impact of land-use change and homogenization on community stability and persistence. In this study, we used river sonar imaging and energetic food webs to investigate the relationships among habitat diversity, energy flux, and trophic interaction strengths in a large-river food-web supporting the endangered Pallid Sturgeon. Our findings show a clear connection between habitat diversity and species interaction strengths, with more diverse habitats promoting higher prey production and a greater proportion of weak and potentially stabilizing interactions. Additionally, rare patches of large and stable river sediments intensified these effects by increasing prey diversity and reducing interaction strengths. The results highlight the importance of landscape characteristics in shaping food-web architectures and have direct implications for the management of imperiled species in a changing world.