Experimental evaluation of evolution and coevolution as agents of ecosystem change in Trinidadian streams.
Abstract
Evolution has been shown to be a critical determinant of ecological processes in some
systems, but its importance relative to traditional ecological effects is not well
known. In addition, almost nothing is known about the role of coevolution in shaping
ecosystem function. Here, we experimentally evaluated the relative effects of species
invasion (a traditional ecological effect), evolution and coevolution on ecosystem
processes in Trinidadian streams. We manipulated the presence and population-of-origin
of two common fish species, the guppy (Poecilia reticulata) and the killifish (Rivulus
hartii). We measured epilithic algal biomass and accrual, aquatic invertebrate biomass,
and detrital decomposition. Our results show that, for some ecosystem responses, the
effects of evolution and coevolution were larger than the effects of species invasion.
Guppy evolution in response to alternative predation regimes significantly influenced
algal biomass and accrual rates. Guppies from a high-predation site caused an increase
in algae relative to guppies from a low-predation site; algae effects were probably
shaped by observed divergence in rates of nutrient excretion and algae consumption.
Rivulus-guppy coevolution significantly influenced the biomass of aquatic invertebrates.
Locally coevolved populations reduced invertebrate biomass relative to non-coevolved
populations. These results challenge the general assumption that intraspecific diversity
is a less critical determinant of ecosystem function than is interspecific diversity.
Given existing evidence for contemporary evolution in these fish species, our findings
suggest considerable potential for eco-evolutionary feedbacks to operate as populations
adapt to natural or anthropogenic perturbations.
Type
Journal articleSubject
AmmoniaAnimals
Biological Evolution
Biomass
Ecosystem
Eukaryota
Fundulidae
Invertebrates
Phosphates
Poecilia
Population Dynamics
Rivers
Trinidad and Tobago
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/6535Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1098/rstb.2009.0016Publication Info
Palkovacs, EP; Marshall, MC; Lamphere, BA; Lynch, BR; Weese, DJ; Fraser, DF; ... Kinnison,
MT (2009). Experimental evaluation of evolution and coevolution as agents of ecosystem change
in Trinidadian streams. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 364(1523). pp. 1617-1628. 10.1098/rstb.2009.0016. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/6535.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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