Experimental evaluation of evolution and coevolution as agents of ecosystem change in Trinidadian streams.

dc.contributor.author

Palkovacs, EP

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Marshall, MC

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Lamphere, BA

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Lynch, BR

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Weese, DJ

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Fraser, DF

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Reznick, DN

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Pringle, CM

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Kinnison, MT

dc.coverage.spatial

England

dc.date.accessioned

2013-04-16T16:43:39Z

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2009-06-12

dc.description.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.

dc.identifier

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19414475

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364/1523/1617

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1471-2970

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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/6535

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eng

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The Royal Society

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Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci

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10.1098/rstb.2009.0016

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Ammonia

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Animals

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Biological Evolution

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Biomass

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Ecosystem

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Eukaryota

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Fundulidae

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Invertebrates

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Phosphates

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Poecilia

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Population Dynamics

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Rivers

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Trinidad and Tobago

dc.title

Experimental evaluation of evolution and coevolution as agents of ecosystem change in Trinidadian streams.

dc.type

Journal article

pubs.author-url

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19414475

pubs.begin-page

1617

pubs.end-page

1628

pubs.issue

1523

pubs.organisational-group

Duke

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Marine Science and Conservation

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Nicholas School of the Environment

pubs.publication-status

Published

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364

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