INTRASPECIFIC VARIATION IN A PREDATOR AFFECTS COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND CASCADING TROPHIC INTERACTIONS
Abstract
Intraspecific phenotypic variation in ecologically important traits is widespread and important for evolutionary processes, but its effects on community and ecosystem processes are poorly understood. We use life history differences among populations of alewives, Alosa pseudoharengus, to test the effects of intraspecific phenotypic variation in a predator on pelagic zooplankton community structure and the strength of cascading trophic interactions. We focus on the effects of differences in (1) the duration of residence in fresh water (either seasonal or year-round) and (2) differences in foraging morphology, both of which may strongly influence interactions between alewives and their prey. We measured zooplankton community structure, algal biomass, and spring total phosphorus in lakes that contained landlocked, anadromous, or no alewives. Both the duration of residence and the intraspecific variation in foraging morphology strongly influenced zooplankton community structure. Lakes with landlocked alewives had small-bodied zooplankton year-round, and lakes with no alewives had large-bodied zooplankton year-round. In contrast, zooplankton communities in lakes with anadromous alewives cycled between large-bodied zooplankton in the winter and spring and small-bodied zooplankton in the summer. In summer, differences in feeding morphology of alewives caused zooplankton biomass to be lower and body size to be smaller in lakes with anadromous alewives than in lakes with landlocked ale…
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In lakes with anadromous alewife, the shift to smaller zooplankton occurs only during summer and fall when predation from age-0 alewife is greatest.
“In contrast, lakes with anadromous alewife shift to smaller zooplankton only during summer and fall when predation from age-0 alewife is greatest (Post et al. 2008).”
From Food web effects and the disappearance of the spring clear water phase in Onondaga Lake following nutrient loading reductions (2010) · cites this paper as Post et al. 2008
The source of such an immigration event should be upstream because young alewives in their native coastal habitat migrate downstream to the sea.
“The source of such an immigration event should be upstream because young alewives in their native coastal habitat migrate downstream to the sea (Post et al. 2008).”
From Food web effects and the disappearance of the spring clear water phase in Onondaga Lake following nutrient loading reductions (2010) · cites this paper as Post et al. 2008
The continued low abundance of Daphnia through 2007 is characteristic of lakes with landlocked alewives because these fish select for large zooplankton.
“The continued low abundance of Daphnia through 2007 is characteristic of lakes with landlocked alewives because these fish select for large zooplankton (Brooks and Dodson 1965, Meyer and Effler 1980, Post et al. 2008).”
From Food web effects and the disappearance of the spring clear water phase in Onondaga Lake following nutrient loading reductions (2010) · cites this paper as Post et al. 2008
Cited by
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West, D. C., Walters, A. W., Gephard, S., & Post, D. M. (2010) · Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences · doi:10.1139/f10-059 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Self-citationTwining, C. W., West, D. C., & Post, D. M. (2013) · Limnology and Oceanography · doi:10.4319/lo.2013.58.4.1286 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Self-citationWang, R. W., Rudstam, L. G., Brooking, T. E., Snyder, D. J., Arrigo, M. A., & Mills, E. L. (2010) · Lake and Reservoir Management · doi:10.1080/07438141.2010.504070 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
- Authors
- Post, D. M., Palkovacs, E. P., Schielke, E. G., & Dodson, S. I.
- Affiliations
- Yale University (US)
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- Venue
- Ecology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2008-07
- Volume
- 89
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 2019-2032
- ISSN
- 0012-9658 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2145211517
- Cited by
- 297
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 11.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Ecology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DukeSpace (Duke University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Keywords
- intraspecific phenotypic variation, alewife, zooplankton community structure, trophic cascades, zooplankton body size, zooplankton biomass, algal biomass, phosphorus, lake food webs, predator-prey interactions
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Connecticut, Fishes, Fresh Water, Predatory Behavior, Seawater, Zooplankton, Food Chain
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