Ecology Lecture 17.ppt

Ecology: Lecture 17 Community structure Vertical stratification in lakes River Continuum concept (pictures from Stroud Water Research Center) Headwater Mid-sized stream Large river Biological Structure Species dominance Numbers Dominant groups in stream sample? Impact Impact of introduced lampreys on fish Keystone predators such as Pisaster ochraceus (type of sea star) Biological Structure Species diversity Number of taxa (families or species for ex.) First approximation Shannon diversity index considers 2 factors: Number of taxa Evenness (or “relative abundance”) For a given number of families, the Shannon index is higher when there are approximately equal numbers of individuals in each group (more even distribution of individuals) Rank abundance of speciesMethod of examining evenness Pi values are on the y-axis Groups placed in order of pi values Effects of population interactions on community structure Competition and community structure Focus: Zebra mussels Invasive Freshwater filter-feeder Attach by byssal threads Encrust any submerged hard surface Zebra mussels: major effects Outcompetes native clams for space (how?) ? zooplankton (efficient filter-feeding) ? ? other filter-feeders or fish that feed on zooplankton ? water clarity ? ? growth of benthic algae Why so successful? Good “fit” with new environment No native parasites or predators Local example: Himalayan blackberry Note robust stem with heavy thorns Grows tall and dense Outcompetes native shrubs Blocks light for shade-intolerant tree seedlings Net result: ? in community diversity of both plants and animals (Why animals too?) Also limits animal movement Two hypotheses for level of community diversity Bottom-up hypothesis Top-down hypothesis Bottom-up hypothesis Defined: The abundance and diversity of primary producers (the “bottom”) affects the diversity at higher levels of the food web. Stream-related hypothesis: Diversity in different parts of a river is a consequence of the div