Experimental predator removal causes rapid salt marsh die-off

被引：48

作者：

Bertness, Mark D. ^{[1
]}

Brisson, Caitlin P. ^{[1
]}

Coverdale, Tyler C. ^{[2
]}

Bevil, Matt C. ^{[1
]}

Crotty, Sinead M. ^{[1
]}

Suglia, Elena R. ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Brown Univ, Dept Ecol & Evolutionary Biol, Providence, RI 02912 USA

[2] Princeton Univ, Dept Ecol & Evolutionary Biol, Princeton, NJ 08544 USA

来源：

ECOLOGY LETTERS | 2014年 / 17卷 / 07期

基金：

美国国家科学基金会;

关键词：

Trophic cascade; herbivore release; salt marsh die-off; predator depletion; experimental predator removal; MEDIATED INDIRECT INTERACTIONS; FUNDULUS-HETEROCLITUS; CONSUMER CONTROL; ECOSYSTEM; DRIVEN; SIZE; EUTROPHICATION; DEGRADATION; DEPLETION; COLLAPSE;

D O I：

10.1111/ele.12287

中图分类号：

Q14 [生态学（生物生态学）];

学科分类号：

071012 ; 0713 ;

摘要：

Salt marsh habitat loss to vegetation die-offs has accelerated throughout the western Atlantic in the last four decades. Recent studies have suggested that eutrophication, pollution and/or disease may contribute to the loss of marsh habitat. In light of recent evidence that predators are important determinants of marsh health in New England, we performed a total predator exclusion experiment. Here, we provide the first experimental evidence that predator depletion can cause salt marsh die-off by releasing the herbivorous crab Sesarma reticulatum from predator control. Excluding predators from a marsh ecosystem for a single growing season resulted in a >100% increase in herbivory and a >150% increase in unvegetated bare space compared to plots with predators. Our results confirm that marshes in this region face multiple, potentially synergistic threats.

引用

页码：830 / 835

页数：6

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