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Predator diversity stabilizes and strengthens trophic control of a keystone grazer.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Griffin, JN; Silliman, BR
Published in: Biology letters
February 2011

Despite the global vulnerability of predators to extinction, and the critical functional role they play in many ecosystems, there have been few realistic tests of the consequences of predator species deletion (conversely, predator diversity) in natural ecosystems. We performed a four-month field experiment in a southeastern United States salt marsh to test the role of predatory crab diversity in regulating populations of a keystone grazer that can decimate marsh vegetation at high densities. Our results revealed that a combination of this system's two resident predator species, in comparison to individual species, both stabilize and strengthen predation rates on the potent grazer. Monthly monitoring of predation rates from intense, hot summer months into the cooler autumn indicate this diversity benefit arises from predators responding differentially to changing environmental conditions across seasons. This study provides some of the first experimental field support for the insurance hypothesis from marine ecosystems, suggests that predator temporal complementarity may be more common than currently perceived, and argues for conservation of predator diversity to ensure reliable and effective control of potentially habitat-destroying grazers.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Biology letters

DOI

EISSN

1744-957X

ISSN

1744-9561

Publication Date

February 2011

Volume

7

Issue

1

Start / End Page

79 / 82

Related Subject Headings

  • Snails
  • Predatory Behavior
  • Population Dynamics
  • Poaceae
  • Food Chain
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Brachyura
  • Animals
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Griffin, J. N., & Silliman, B. R. (2011). Predator diversity stabilizes and strengthens trophic control of a keystone grazer. Biology Letters, 7(1), 79–82. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2010.0626
Journal cover image

Published In

Biology letters

DOI

EISSN

1744-957X

ISSN

1744-9561

Publication Date

February 2011

Volume

7

Issue

1

Start / End Page

79 / 82

Related Subject Headings

  • Snails
  • Predatory Behavior
  • Population Dynamics
  • Poaceae
  • Food Chain
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Brachyura
  • Animals
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences