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Omnivore density affects community structure through multiple trophic cascades

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Abstract

Omnivores can dampen trophic cascades by feeding at multiple trophic levels, yet few studies have evaluated how intraspecific variation of omnivores influences community structure. The speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus) is a common and omnivorous minnow that consumes algae and invertebrates. We studied effects of size and size structure on top-down control by dace and how effects scaled with density. Dace were manipulated in a mesocosm experiment and changes in invertebrate and algal communities and ecosystem function were monitored. Omnivores affected experimental communities via two distinct trophic pathways (benthic and pelagic). In the benthic pathway, dace reduced macroinvertebrate biomass, thereby causing density-mediated indirect effects that led to increased benthic algal biomass. Dace also reduced pelagic predatory macroinvertebrate biomass (hemipterans), thereby increasing the abundance of emerging insects. The effect of dace and hemipterans on emerging insects was mediated by a non-linear response to dace with peak emergence at intermediate dace density. In contrast with recent studies, omnivore size and size structure had no clear effect, indicating that small and large dace in our experiment shared similar functional roles. Our results support that the degree to which omnivores dampen trophic cascades depends on their relative effect on multiple trophic levels, such that the more omnivorous a predator is, the more likely cascades will be dampened. Availability of abundant macroinvertebrates, and the absence of top predators, may have shifted dace diets from primary to secondary consumption, strengthening density-dependent trophic cascades. Both omnivore density and dietary shifts are important factors influencing omnivore-mediated communities.

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Acknowledgements

We thank A. Glass and A. Allen for help in the field and/or laboratory as well as R. Rothenbuecher, K. Boeckman and S. Peterson for helpful comments and information. Many thanks to M. Flinn, C. Mecklin, and T. Spier for guidance and feedback and to M. Torres, R. Baker, and A. Lackey for manuscript comments. Special thanks to P. Vahldiek, S. Mahoney, S. Stewart, M. Nelson, and A. Schultz from the High Lonesome Ranch (HLR) and High Lonesome Institute (HLI) for logistical and emotional support. We are very appreciative for field assistance provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, especially J. Logan. Lastly, thanks to G. Harris and A. Hayden at Hancock Biological Station (HBS) for logistical and laboratory support. Generous financial support was provided by the HLR, HLI, and Watershed Studies Institute (WSI).

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  1. Donald J. Benkendorf

    Present address: Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University, 5210 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322-5210, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Watershed Studies Institute, Murray State University, Murray, KY, 42071, USA

    Donald J. Benkendorf & Howard H . Whiteman

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, Murray, KY, 42071, USA

    Donald J. Benkendorf & Howard H . Whiteman

  3. High Lonesome Institute, De Beque, CO, 81630, USA

    Donald J. Benkendorf & Howard H . Whiteman

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DJB and HHW conceived and designed the experiments. DJB performed the experiments and analyzed the data. DJB and HHW wrote the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Donald J. Benkendorf.

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We intend to archive all relevant data in the Dryad Digital Repository.

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Communicated by David Chalcraft.

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Benkendorf, D.J., Whiteman, H.H... Omnivore density affects community structure through multiple trophic cascades. Oecologia 195, 397–407 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-020-04836-0

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