2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
6/08/2017 | 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM | LARGE WILDLIFE PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT TERRESTRIAL RESOURCE SUBSIDIES TO AN AFRICAN RIVER FOOD WEB | 306B
LARGE WILDLIFE PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT TERRESTRIAL RESOURCE SUBSIDIES TO AN AFRICAN RIVER FOOD WEB
Terrestrial resource subsidies can strongly influence aquatic food webs. In sub-Saharan Africa, large animal migrations are an important driver of subsidy transport. We have been studying the influence of two forms of animal subsidy on the Mara River food web in East Africa. Hippos contribute feces during daily feeding migrations, and wildebeest contribute carcasses from mass drownings during seasonal migrations. These subsides differ in their quantity, quality, timing and duration, which interacts with discharge to influence the river food web. We used stable isotopes to estimate assimilation of basal food web resources by aquatic insects and fish across a range of discharge. We found that hippo feces constitutes a large proportion of fish assimilated C and N (80-90%), particularly during the dry season. Wildebeest soft tissue accounts for up to half of fish assimilated C and N when carcasses are present, but bone biofilm remains an important resource months after carcasses are gone. These data suggest terrestrial resource subsidies from large wildlife may increase secondary production in the Mara River, which could influence the dynamics of the river food web.
- C28 Land-Water Interfaces
- C06 Large River Ecology
- C25 Food Webs
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Presenters/Authors
Amanda Subalusky
(), University of Florida, asubalusky@ufl.edu;
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Christopher Dutton
(), Yale University, cldutton@gmail.com;
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Emma Rosi
(), Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, rosie@caryinstitute.org;
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David Post
(), Yale University, david.post@yale.edu;
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