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The facilitation of the native bluegill sunfish by the invasive bighead carp
Author(s) -
Collins Scott F.,
Nelson Kirsten A.,
DeBoom Corey S.,
Wahl David H.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/fwb.12976
Subject(s) - biology , ecology , bighead carp , hypophthalmichthys , food web , invasive species , introduced species , predation , trophic cascade , invertebrate , fishery , carp , silver carp , fish <actinopterygii>
Abstract Communities of organisms are shaped by a complex suite of positive and negative species interactions. Ecological phenomena like biological invasions typically evoke notions of negative effects on native communities. Yet, negative effects within specific food‐web components can also have positive feedbacks that manifest elsewhere within the food web. We designed an experiment to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of invasive bighead carp ( Hypophthalmichthys nobilis : Cyprinidae) on planktonic and benthic invertebrates and the growth and survival of juvenile bluegill sunfish ( Lepomis macrochirus : Centrarchidae). Our experiment indicated that the presence of bighead carp indirectly facilitated bluegill growth and survival. The underlying processes driving predator–predator facilitation stemmed from a combination of indirect interactions occurring through invertebrates in planktonic and vegetated habitats. Individual bluegill consumed more cladocerans and predatory macroinvertebrates in the presence of bighead carp. The presence of bighead carp appears to have indirectly influenced interactions among cladocerans, invertebrate predators, and bluegill. Understanding the cumulative direct and indirect effects of bigheaded carp on aquatic ecosystems requires the documentation of both negative and positive effects. Although one taxon benefitted from the presence of an invader, our findings demonstrate that this response occurred because bigheaded carp caused imbalances within the food web. We urge that future studies consider a priori how positive and negative interspecific interactions shape the structure of food webs.