Prey size diversity hinders biomass trophic transfer and predator size diversity promotes it in planktonic communities.

ABSTRACT: Body size exerts multiple effects on plankton food-web interactions. However, the influence of size structure on trophic transfer remains poorly quantified in the field. Here, we examine how the size diversity of prey (nano-microplankton) and predators (mesozooplankton) influence trophic transfer efficiency (using biomass ratio as a proxy) in natural marine ecosystems. Our results support previous studies on single trophic levels: transfer efficiency decreases with increasing prey size diversity and is enhanced with greater predator size diversity. We further show that communities with low nano-microplankton size diversity and high mesozooplankton size diversity tend to occur in warmer environments with low nutrient concentrations, thus promoting trophic transfer to higher trophic levels i

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Comas C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4760158 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature