Temperature effects on prey and basal resources exceed that of predators in an experimental community.

ABSTRACT: Climate warming alters the structure of ecological communities by modifying species interactions at different trophic levels. Yet, the consequences of warming-led modifications in biotic interactions at higher trophic levels on lower trophic groups are lesser known. Here, we test the effects of multiple predator species on prey population size and traits and subsequent effects on basal resources along an experimental temperature gradient (12-15°C, 17-20°C, and 22-25°C). We experimentally assembled food web modules with two congeneric predatory mites (Hypoaspis miles and Hypoaspis aculeifer) and two Collembola prey species (Folsomia candida and Proisotoma minuta) on a litter and yeast mixture as the basal resources. We hypothesized that warming would modify inter

SUBMITTER: Thakur MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6308891 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature