Amphibian loss alters periphyton structure and invertebrate growth in montane streams.

ABSTRACT: Amphibians are declining worldwide due to a combination of stressors such as climate change, invasive species, habitat loss, pollution and emergent diseases. Although their losses are likely to have important ecological consequences on the structure and functioning of freshwater ecosystems, this issue has been scarcely explored. We conducted an experiment in three montane streams-where primary production is the main source of energy and carbon-to assess the effects of amphibian disappearance (i.e. presence or absence of the common midwife toad Alytes obstetricans, a common species found in pools of these streams) on several aspects of ecosystem functioning and structure: periphyton biomass and chlorophyll a concentration, algal assemblage structure, and growth of macroinvertebrate grazers.

SUBMITTER: Alonso A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9828351 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature