How biological diversity influences ecosystem function: a test with a tropical stream detritivore guild |
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Authors: | Luz Boyero Richard G Pearson Mikis Bastian |
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Institution: | (1) School of Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia |
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Abstract: | We investigated the relationship between diversity and ecosystem function, which is controversial and has rarely been examined
for consumer assemblages, for the process of leaf breakdown by the shredder guild in a tropical stream. We manipulated species
richness, evenness and identity of four macroinvertebrate shredder species (three caddisflies and one mayfly) in microcosms
and tested their effect on leaf breakdown rates measured as leaf mass loss per capita and per milligram of animal. Species
richness, evenness and species identity all affected leaf breakdown rates. Breakdown rates tended to increase with higher
richness, but only for the three caddisflies, probably through a release of intraspecific interference, although other mechanisms
such as niche complementarity or facilitation cannot be discarded. Leaf breakdown by the caddisflies was reduced in the presence
of the mayfly, possibly because of its mode of movement by swimming instead of crawling and its similarity to some predators
that are common in leaf litter. Species identity was more important than species richness in determining leaf breakdown rates,
indicating that some species within the shredder guild are not redundant, and suggesting important consequences of particular
species loss for the functioning of the ecosystem. |
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Keywords: | Evenness Leaf breakdown Shredders Species identity Species richness |
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