Abstract
Individual species can have profound effects on ecological communities, but, in hyperdiverse systems, it can be challenging to determine the underlying ecological mechanisms. Simplifying species’ responses by trophic level or functional group may be useful, but characterizing the trait structure of communities may be better related to niche processes. A largely overlooked trait in such community-level analyses is behaviour. In the Neotropics, epiphytic tank bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) harbour a distinct fauna of terrestrial invertebrates that is mainly composed of predators, such as ants and spiders. As these bromeliad-associated predators tend to forage on the bromeliads’ support tree, they may influence the arboreal invertebrate fauna. We examined how, by increasing associated predator habitat, bromeliads may affect arboreal invertebrates. Specifically, we observed the trophic and functional group composition, and the behaviour and interspecific interactions of arboreal invertebrates in trees with and without bromeliads. Bromeliads modified the functional composition of arboreal invertebrates, but not the overall abundance of predators and herbivores. Bromeliads did not alter the overall behavioural profile of arboreal invertebrates, but did lead to more positive interactions in the day than at night, with a reverse pattern on trees without bromeliads. In particular, tending behaviours were influenced by bromeliad-associated predators. These results indicate that detailed examination of the functional affiliations and behaviour of organisms can reveal complex effects of habitat-forming species like bromeliads, even when total densities of trophic groups are insensitive.
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Data available from the Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/kx7sw/.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Francesca Fogliata for full-time field assistance during this project. We thank Calixto Moraga, Petrona Ríos, Del Oro S.A. (especially Hugo Segnini) for facilitating access to sites. We also thank Max Vargas, Cristian Fuentes-Medina and Eduardo Alvarado for their invaluable help in the field during this project. In addition, we would like to thank Juli Carrillo for her input the initial stages of this project. Without these people, this project would not have been possible. This project was completed under MINAE permits ACG-PI-012-2017 and ACG-PI-PC-034-2017.
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PR designed the survey. PR collected the data and analyzed it with input from DSS. BRK and MAS identified ant species. PR wrote the first version of the manuscript, and all other co-authors made contributions to manuscript revision.
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Communicated by Raphael Didham.
By comparing abundance and behavioural patterns, we innovate in quantifying community shifts. We detect subtle changes that are contingent on time, and that may be missed by classical trophic studies.
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Rogy, P., Hammill, E., Smith, M.A. et al. Bromeliads affect the interactions and composition of invertebrates on their support tree. Oecologia 192, 879–891 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-020-04616-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-020-04616-w