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Variability in Invertebrate Trophic Networks along Stream Nutrient Gradients

Kenly, Travonya L.
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1824-8445
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1525715627495345

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environment and Natural Resources.
Food webs, which describe biotic interactions and integrate energy pathways within ecosystems, represent one of the principal categories of ecological networks. However, the impacts of nutrient enrichment – a global stressor in aquatic ecosystems – on key characteristics of ecological trophic networks remain largely unresolved. We assessed associations between nutrient enrichment (nitrogen [N], phosphorus [P]) and aquatic invertebrate network characteristics at fourteen stream reaches in the Upper Big Walnut Creek watershed, Ohio (USA) across two seasons. Total N:P ratio was positively related to invertebrate density, richness, evenness, and connectance, but negatively related to the relative abundance of top predators; nitrate (NO3):phosphate (PO4) was positively associated with density as well as linkage density. Nutrient concentrations were also correlated with multiple descriptors of invertebrate networks, with total P and PO4 negatively associated with richness, linkage density, and connectance. NO3 was negatively related to connectance, while total N was negatively related to the proportions of basal and positively related to intermediate consumers. Species traits were linked to network properties. For instance, small body size was negatively related to linkage density, connectance, richness, and density; the proportion of bi- and multivoltine aquatic insects was positively associated with richness; and the relative abundances of collector-filterers were positively related to linkage density, connectance, and richness. These finding suggest that variability in nutrients can have strong impacts on ecological invertebrate networks, and that these effects are likely mediated by species traits. Understanding how ecological networks respond to nutrient enrichment will be an important contribution to interpreting community and ecosystem effects of nutrient enrichment in streams.
Mazeika Sullivan (Advisor)
Lauren Pintor (Committee Member)
Anelli Carol (Committee Member)
123 p.
Environmental Science

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Citations

  • Kenly, T. L. (2018). Variability in Invertebrate Trophic Networks along Stream Nutrient Gradients [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1525715627495345

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kenly, Travonya. Variability in Invertebrate Trophic Networks along Stream Nutrient Gradients . 2018. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1525715627495345.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kenly, Travonya. "Variability in Invertebrate Trophic Networks along Stream Nutrient Gradients ." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1525715627495345

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1525715627495345
161
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.