Ecology 8310
Population (and Community)
Ecology
"Indirect Effects"
•
•
•
A terminological milieu
Classic indirect effects (1 example)
Higher order interactions (2 examples)
Indirect effect
Trait-mediated indirect effect
Trait-mediated indirect interaction
Trait-mediated interaction
Interaction modification
Non-lethal effects
Non-consumptive effects
Trait-modified indirect effect
Density-mediated indirect effect
Behavioral indirect effect
Higher order interaction
Indirect effect
Higher order interaction
Indirect Effect
An effect of one species on another, mediated by a
change in the density of an “intermediate” species
(a series of >2 direct effects)
P1
P
-
N2
P1
-
-
-
N2
Indirect mutualism
N2
-
P
P2
P
+
Keystone predation
N1
-
P2
+
N1
+
-
+
+
R
N
Exploitation competition
N1
-
N2
Apparent competition
Trophic
cascade
Classic experimental study:
Wootton (1994)
Intertidal food web
Birds
+
GW Robinson
- +
Starfish
-
+ Snail
+
-
Acorn
Barn.
G&B Corsi
+
-
+ -
+
Goose
Barn.
-
-
-
Mussels
-
Gerald and Buff Corsi
+
Data: Response to Bird Exclusion
Birds
Starfish (no data)
Snail
Acorn
Barn.
Goose
Barn.
Mussels
What hypotheses might explain these patterns?
How can we
explain the
Hypothesis
1 data?
Birds
+
-
Starfish
+
+
-
+
-
Snail
+
Acorn
Barn.
+
-
Another
option?
+
-
-
Goose
Barn.
-
+
Mussels
Hypothesis 2
Birds
+
-
Starfish
-
+
+
+
-
Snail
+
Acorn
Barn.
+
-
+
-
-
Goose
Barn.
-
+
Mussels
Hypothesis 3
Birds
+
-
Starfish
-
+
+
-
Snail
+
Acorn
Barn.
+
+
-
+
-
-
-
Goose
Barn.
-
+
Mussels
Can
we come1 up with
a test of2theseHypothesis
hypotheses?
Hypothesis
Hypothesis
3
Birds
Goose Barn.
Mussels
Acorn Barn.
Birds
Birds
Starfish
Starfish
Snail
Acorn Barn.
+
Goose Barn.
+
Snail
Snail
Goose Barn.
Acorn Barn.
Mussels
Mussels
Two approaches
1. Manipulate intermediate species directly (and
look at effects)
2. Remove intermediate species: does indirect
effect of birds disappear?
It the absence of snails: what will
happen to the other species, if we
then manipulate birds?
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 2
Birds
Goose Barn.
Mussels
Acorn Barn.
Hypothesis 3
Birds
Birds
Starfish
Starfish
Snail
Acorn Barn.
Goose Barn.
Snail
Goose Barn.
Snail
Acorn Barn.
Mussels
Mussels
Response thru snails (Nucella):
•
•
Weak effects of snail manipulation
Bird effects do not depend on presence
of snails
•
Supports Hypothesis 1
•
Other focal taxa…
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 2
Birds
Goose Barn.
Mussels
Acorn Barn.
Hypothesis 3
Birds
Birds
Starfish
Starfish
Snail
Acorn Barn.
Goose Barn.
Snail
Goose Barn.
Snail
Acorn Barn.
Mussels
Mussels
Effects thru gooseneck barnacles
(Pollicipes):
•
•
Large effects of Pollicipes (reduced acorn
barn, mussels, snails)
Bird effects depend on presence of Pollicipes
(key result)
•
Supports Hypothesis 1 (not 2 & 3)
Creative experimental approach
based on clear definition of
"indirect effect"
Higher order interaction
the direct effect of one species on another depends on
the density of a third (i.e., aij is a function of Nk): e.g.,
Predator (j)
aij
Prey (i)
A third species (k)
aij is a function of Nk
Higher order interaction == a direct effect (but
influenced by another species)
Indirect effect == a result of a series of direct
effects
Higher Order Interactions:
• Non-linearities (e.g., a type II functional response
with >2 prey)
• "Trait-moderated" indirect effects:
•
Habitat shifts (e.g., predator-induced; aka “behavioral indirect
effects”)
•
Morphology (tadpole tails, barnacle lips, Daphnia helmets)
•
Physiology (activity, stress)
•
Life history (e.g., early reproduction)
The key players:
Predator
Prey
Resource
Three treatments (3 years):
Predictions?
--plant abundance
--plant diversity
Symbols are different years
Richness: No.
species
Evenness: a
measure of
equitability
(1=equal
abundances; 0=one
dominant)
Solidago rugosa
Non-lethal effects of predator on prey can
influence prey's resource assemblage
1) 3 mortality levels (removed 9, 4, 25% per 2.5 d)
X
4 non-lethal levels (0, 1, 2, 4 caged Anax)
2) Effect of 2 lethal Anax
Use these data to partition lethal and non-lethal effects
Subsequent reviews have shown non-consumptive
effects can be very large relative to consumptive effects.
Preisser et al. 2005
HW6:
Consider a 3-species system: 1 predator with 2 prey. The
predator eats both prey types, and exhibits a type 2 functional
response. The prey do NOT compete. Consider an experiment in
which you reduce (and maintain) prey species A to half of its
ambient density. You monitor the demographics and density of
prey species B.
In the absence of any trait-moderated effects, explain the
subsequent dynamics of the predator and the other prey species
(relative to a control system that remains at its equilibrium). Make
sure you include the short-term effects of the manipulation as well
as the long-term outcomes.
Due by Friday, 5pm (via email to Craig)