Effects of Omnivory on Trophic Cascades
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Howard Whiteman
Presentation Format
Event
Abstract/Description
Omnivores occupy a broad trophic position and have generally been shown to dampen trophic cascades by feeding at multiple trophic levels simultaneously. However, much previous research has neglected to account for several factors such as density and size structure of the omnivore assemblage which may alter this relationship between omnivory and trophic cascades. Additionally, the presence of heterospecific competitors may affect the role of omnivory on trophic cascades by changing omnivore feeding strategy. Experimentally manipulating and crossing these factors will provide a more complete understanding of the role of omnivory on trophic cascades within natural ecosystems. The speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus) is an omnivorous fish species native to the western United States that feeds primarily on macroinvertebrates and algae. Within beaver ponds, the speckled dace is naturally found at varying densities and size structures and cohabitating with various heterospecific competitors. Thus, the speckled dace is an ideal study organism for examining the interacting effects of density, size structure, and presence of a heterospecific competitor on trophic cascades.
Location
Barkley Room, Curris Center
Start Date
April 2016
End Date
April 2016
Effects of Omnivory on Trophic Cascades
Barkley Room, Curris Center
Omnivores occupy a broad trophic position and have generally been shown to dampen trophic cascades by feeding at multiple trophic levels simultaneously. However, much previous research has neglected to account for several factors such as density and size structure of the omnivore assemblage which may alter this relationship between omnivory and trophic cascades. Additionally, the presence of heterospecific competitors may affect the role of omnivory on trophic cascades by changing omnivore feeding strategy. Experimentally manipulating and crossing these factors will provide a more complete understanding of the role of omnivory on trophic cascades within natural ecosystems. The speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus) is an omnivorous fish species native to the western United States that feeds primarily on macroinvertebrates and algae. Within beaver ponds, the speckled dace is naturally found at varying densities and size structures and cohabitating with various heterospecific competitors. Thus, the speckled dace is an ideal study organism for examining the interacting effects of density, size structure, and presence of a heterospecific competitor on trophic cascades.