Interactions among herbivory, climate, topography and plant age shape riparian willow dynamics in northern Y ellowstone N ational P ark, USA
Open accessAbstract
Summary: Understanding how the environmental context modifies the strength of trophic interactions within food webs forms a central challenge in community ecology. Here, we demonstrate the necessity of considering the influence of climate, landscape heterogeneity and demographics for understanding trophic interactions in a well‐studied food web in Y ellowstone N ational P ark, USA. We studied riparian willow (S alix spp.) establishment and stem growth reconstructed from tree rings on the northern range of Y ellowstone over a 30‐year period that included the reintroduction of a top predator, the grey wolf (C anis lupus). We used climate variables (annual precipitation, stream flow and growing season length), herbivore abundance and landscape descriptors (elevation and topographic wetness index) to predict establishment and growth processes through time before and after the reintroduction of wolves. We fitted Bayesian hierarchical models to establishment data and time series of individual stem heights from 1980 to 2008. Explaining variability in establishment required models with stream flow, annual precipitation and elk abundance. Climate, trophic and landscape covariates interacted with stem age to determine stem height and growth rate through time. Growth rates of most stems ages (2+) declined after the reintroduction of wolves. However, stem growth rates naturally declined with age, and the decline we observed was coincident with faster growth rates for the youngest stems. Mean stem heights at age have remained relatively stable through time for most age classes. Estimated effects of landscape topography had approximately the same magnitude of effect on stem growth rate at age as elk abundance. Synthesis. We show that the effects of modification of a food web cannot be predicted by studying trophic dynamics in isolation. No single driver explained patterns of willow establishment and growth over the past three decades in Yellowstone. Instead, interactions among trophic forces, interannual climate variability and landscape topography together shaped how the ecosystem responded to perturbations. Top‐down effects of ungulates on riparian woody vegetation must be considered in the context of plant age, and climate and landscape heterogeneity.
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Willow response to declining elk herbivory has been patchy, occurring in many but not all stands.
“Whereas elk herbivory has declined, the response in willow appears to have been patchy, occurring in many but not all stands (Marshall et al. 2014).”
From Trophic Cascades in a Multicausal World: Isle Royale and Yellowstone (2014) · cites this paper as Marshall et al. 2014
Cites
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Rangeland Systems: Processes, Management and Challenges
(2017) · Springer Series on Environmental Management · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-46709-2 · Cited by 197 · see citing works
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“Stream incision or a low water table may slow or prevent willow growth or expansion in some sites (Wolf et al. 2007, Bilyeu et al. 2008, Marshall et al. 2013, 2014).”
Background
- Authors
- Marshall, K. N., Cooper, D. J., & Hobbs, N. T.
- Affiliations
- Colorado State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Marshall, Kristin N.
- Venue
- Journal of Ecology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-03-07
- Volume
- 102
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 667-677
- ISSN
- 0022-0477 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2745
- OpenAlex
- W2053806884
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 7.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Ecology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Keywords
- willow, trophic interactions, tree growth rate, tree establishment, climate effects on plant growth, topographic wetness index, landscape heterogeneity, plant age, top-down effects, ungulate browsing, Yellowstone National Park
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