DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/VBDN-Z012
Defense Date
2008
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Biology
First Advisor
James Vonesh
Abstract
Amphibians and aquatic invertebrates have complex life histories that link aquatic and terrestrial food webs. It has been suggested that amphibian reproduction is an important source of carbon to some aquatic systems. This process of energy flow may be shaped by shifts in habitat selection in response to predators. We hypothesized that predators decrease colonization and oviposition of prey, reducing active inputs. Thus predation risk is expected to shift the relative amounts of active and passive subsidies. We manipulated the presence of fish predators in aquatic mesocosms. Results suggest hylid treefrog eggs and hydrophilid beetles were less abundant in predator treatments. This difference in oviposition and colonization translated into small reductions in calories and ash free dry mass of active inputs. However, passive allochthonous inputs were more than double active amounts and variable, therefore relative amounts of active and passive inputs did not differ across the levels of predation risk.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
August 2008