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Journal Article

Landscape diversity promotes stable food‐web architectures in large rivers

Eric A. Scholl; Wyatt F. Cross; Christopher S. Guy; Adeline J. Dutton; James R. Junker
Ecology Letters · Vol. 26, Issue 10 · pp. 1740-1751 · 2023

Abstract

Uncovering relationships between landscape diversity and species interactions is crucial for predicting how ongoing land‐use change and homogenization will impact the stability and persistence of communities. However, such connections have rarely been quantified in nature. We coupled high‐resolution river sonar imaging with annualized energetic food webs to quantify relationships among habitat diversity, energy flux, and trophic interaction strengths in large‐river food‐web modules that support the endangered Pallid Sturgeon. Our results demonstrate a clear relationship between habitat diversity and species interaction strengths, with more diverse foraging landscapes containing higher production of prey and a greater proportion of weak and potentially stabilizing interactions. Additionally, rare patches of large and relatively stable river sediments intensified these effects and further reduced interaction strengths by increasing prey diversity. Our findings highlight the importance of landscape characteristics in promoting stabilizing food‐web architectures and provide direct relevance for future management of imperilled species in a simplified and rapidly changing world.

Bibliographic Information

JournalEcology Letters
PublisherWiley
Publication Date2023-10-01
Publication Year2023
Volume26
Issue10
Pages1740-1751
Document TypeJournal Article
Print ISSN1461-023X
eISSN1461-0248
DOI10.1111/ele.14289
SubjectEcology & Organismal Biology

Access Information

NARA Access Coverage1998-01-01~Current
Journal Homepagehttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/loi/14610248
Publisher PageOpen Publisher Page
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