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ANTHROPOGENIC SUBSIDIES ALTER STREAM CONSUMER–RESOURCE STOICHIOMETRY, BIODIVERSITY, AND FOOD CHAINS
Author(s) -
Singer Gabriel A.,
Battin Tom J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
ecological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.864
H-Index - 213
eISSN - 1939-5582
pISSN - 1051-0761
DOI - 10.1890/06-0229
Subject(s) - ecological stoichiometry , ecology , food web , food chain , ecosystem , community structure , environmental science , biodiversity , primary producers , biology , nutrient , phytoplankton
Urbanization is dramatically changing nutrient and organic matter regimes in streams, yet the community and ecosystem implications often remain obscure. We assessed the consequences of sewage‐derived particulate organic matter (SDPOM) for invertebrate community structure and function in a headwater stream. Using stable isotope analyses, we found assimilation of organic SDPOM to double community secondary production, and stoichiometric analyses revealed SDPOM enriched in phosphorus (P) to foster putatively fast‐growing, P‐rich consumers in the subsidized reach. This altered consumer–resource stoichiometry impacted both community structure and nutrient fluxes through the invertebrate community. Community structure shifted toward significantly reduced diversity and evenness in the subsidized reach and consequently toward shorter food chains. Our integration of ecological stoichiometry with stable isotope analyses and food web ecology expands the previous focus of traditional ecotoxicology and ecophysiology to an ecosystem‐level appreciation of pollutant ecology.