The functional effects of a dominant consumer are altered following the loss of a dominant producer.

ABSTRACT: Human impacts on ecosystems are resulting in unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss worldwide. The loss of species results in the loss of the multiple roles that each species plays or functions (i.e., "ecosystem multifunctionality") that it provides. A more comprehensive understanding of the effects of species on ecosystem multifunctionality is necessary for assessing the ecological impacts of species loss. We studied the effects of two dominant intertidal species, a primary producer (the seaweed Neorhodomela oregona) and a consumer (the shellfish Mytilus trossulus), on 12 ecosystem functions in a coastal ecosystem, both in undisturbed tide pools and following the removal of the dominant producer. We modified analytical methods used in biodiversity-multifunctionality studie

SUBMITTER: Mahanes SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10396790 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature