Predator–rodent–plant interactions along a coast–inland gradient in Fennoscandian tundra
Spatial variation in the strength of trophic cascades in arctic tundra has been related to flows of subsidies across ecosystem boundaries. Here, we ask whether the input of marine subsidies in tundra systems would cause spatial variation in the strength of rodent–plant interactions between coastal a...
Published in: | Ecography |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
2015
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ecog.01758 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fecog.01758 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ecog.01758 |
id |
crwiley:10.1111/ecog.01758 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crwiley:10.1111/ecog.01758 2024-06-02T08:02:03+00:00 Predator–rodent–plant interactions along a coast–inland gradient in Fennoscandian tundra Ruffino, Lise Oksanen, Tarja Hoset, Katrine S. Tuomi, Maria Oksanen, Lauri Korpimäki, Erkki Bugli, Amandine Hobson, Keith A. Johansen, Bernt Mäkynen, Aurelia 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ecog.01758 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fecog.01758 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ecog.01758 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Ecography volume 39, issue 9, page 871-883 ISSN 0906-7590 1600-0587 journal-article 2015 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.01758 2024-05-03T11:28:08Z Spatial variation in the strength of trophic cascades in arctic tundra has been related to flows of subsidies across ecosystem boundaries. Here, we ask whether the input of marine subsidies in tundra systems would cause spatial variation in the strength of rodent–plant interactions between coastal areas, where predators have access to marine‐derived resources, and non‐subsidized inland areas of northern Fennoscandia. We present a detailed evaluation of predator–rodent–vegetation interactions along a coast‐inland gradient, during the 2011 rodent outbreak and the two following decline years, by using direct assessments of rodent impacts and tracing of marine‐derived nutrients in the food web. Our results revealed that the main rodent predator during summer, the long‐tailed jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus , did not benefit from marine resources while breeding (relative dietary proportion in chicks’ diet = 0–3%). Contrary to this pattern, parasitic jaegers S. parasiticus , bred exclusively near the coast and preyed effectively on both marine resources (41% of chicks’ diet) and rodents (12%). Mammalian predators also showed a higher activity during winter near the coast. Despite overall higher predator numbers, no evidence was found for lower rodent population growth rates during the three monitoring summers and for weaker rodent grazing impacts in the coastal area. Instead, we documented pronounced damages caused by lemmings and voles on bryophytes and vascular plants, especially dwarf shrubs (e.g. Vaccinum myrtillus ) all along the coast–inland gradient. Taken together, our results did not support the hypothesis that marine subsidies would trigger a trophic cascade in coastal tundra areas of northern Fennoscandia during a major rodent outbreak, probably due to a relatively low diversity of marine‐subsidized predators in the region. Comparative observational and experimental studies at large spatial scales in various arctic regions are absolutely necessary for a better understanding of factors causing regional ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Fennoscandia Fennoscandian Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus Tundra Wiley Online Library Arctic Ecography 39 9 871 883 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wiley Online Library |
op_collection_id |
crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Spatial variation in the strength of trophic cascades in arctic tundra has been related to flows of subsidies across ecosystem boundaries. Here, we ask whether the input of marine subsidies in tundra systems would cause spatial variation in the strength of rodent–plant interactions between coastal areas, where predators have access to marine‐derived resources, and non‐subsidized inland areas of northern Fennoscandia. We present a detailed evaluation of predator–rodent–vegetation interactions along a coast‐inland gradient, during the 2011 rodent outbreak and the two following decline years, by using direct assessments of rodent impacts and tracing of marine‐derived nutrients in the food web. Our results revealed that the main rodent predator during summer, the long‐tailed jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus , did not benefit from marine resources while breeding (relative dietary proportion in chicks’ diet = 0–3%). Contrary to this pattern, parasitic jaegers S. parasiticus , bred exclusively near the coast and preyed effectively on both marine resources (41% of chicks’ diet) and rodents (12%). Mammalian predators also showed a higher activity during winter near the coast. Despite overall higher predator numbers, no evidence was found for lower rodent population growth rates during the three monitoring summers and for weaker rodent grazing impacts in the coastal area. Instead, we documented pronounced damages caused by lemmings and voles on bryophytes and vascular plants, especially dwarf shrubs (e.g. Vaccinum myrtillus ) all along the coast–inland gradient. Taken together, our results did not support the hypothesis that marine subsidies would trigger a trophic cascade in coastal tundra areas of northern Fennoscandia during a major rodent outbreak, probably due to a relatively low diversity of marine‐subsidized predators in the region. Comparative observational and experimental studies at large spatial scales in various arctic regions are absolutely necessary for a better understanding of factors causing regional ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ruffino, Lise Oksanen, Tarja Hoset, Katrine S. Tuomi, Maria Oksanen, Lauri Korpimäki, Erkki Bugli, Amandine Hobson, Keith A. Johansen, Bernt Mäkynen, Aurelia |
spellingShingle |
Ruffino, Lise Oksanen, Tarja Hoset, Katrine S. Tuomi, Maria Oksanen, Lauri Korpimäki, Erkki Bugli, Amandine Hobson, Keith A. Johansen, Bernt Mäkynen, Aurelia Predator–rodent–plant interactions along a coast–inland gradient in Fennoscandian tundra |
author_facet |
Ruffino, Lise Oksanen, Tarja Hoset, Katrine S. Tuomi, Maria Oksanen, Lauri Korpimäki, Erkki Bugli, Amandine Hobson, Keith A. Johansen, Bernt Mäkynen, Aurelia |
author_sort |
Ruffino, Lise |
title |
Predator–rodent–plant interactions along a coast–inland gradient in Fennoscandian tundra |
title_short |
Predator–rodent–plant interactions along a coast–inland gradient in Fennoscandian tundra |
title_full |
Predator–rodent–plant interactions along a coast–inland gradient in Fennoscandian tundra |
title_fullStr |
Predator–rodent–plant interactions along a coast–inland gradient in Fennoscandian tundra |
title_full_unstemmed |
Predator–rodent–plant interactions along a coast–inland gradient in Fennoscandian tundra |
title_sort |
predator–rodent–plant interactions along a coast–inland gradient in fennoscandian tundra |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ecog.01758 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fecog.01758 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ecog.01758 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Fennoscandia Fennoscandian Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus Tundra |
genre_facet |
Arctic Fennoscandia Fennoscandian Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus Tundra |
op_source |
Ecography volume 39, issue 9, page 871-883 ISSN 0906-7590 1600-0587 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.01758 |
container_title |
Ecography |
container_volume |
39 |
container_issue |
9 |
container_start_page |
871 |
op_container_end_page |
883 |
_version_ |
1800746546950569984 |