Herbivore species richness and feeding complementarity affect community structure and function on a coral reef.

ABSTRACT: Consumer effects on prey are well known for cascading through food webs and producing dramatic top-down effects on community structure and ecosystem function. Bottom-up effects of prey (primary producer) biodiversity are also well known. However, the role of consumer diversity in affecting community structure or ecosystem function is not well understood. Here, we show that herbivore species richness can be critical for maintaining the structure and function of coral reefs. In two experiments over 2 years, we constructed large cages enclosing single herbivore species, equal densities of mixed species of herbivores, or excluding herbivores and assessed effects on both seaweeds and corals. When compared with single-herbivore treatments, mixed-herbivore treatments lowered macroalgal abundance

SUBMITTER: Burkepile DE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2565647 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature