2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
5/22/2018 | 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM | ENGINEER DENSITY, NOT ENVIRONMENTAL HARSHNESS MODULATES INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITY FACILITATION ACROSS A MONTANE GRADIENT | 420 A
ENGINEER DENSITY, NOT ENVIRONMENTAL HARSHNESS MODULATES INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITY FACILITATION ACROSS A MONTANE GRADIENT
Understanding how ecosystem engineering facilitates benthic communities by providing novel habitats is important in describing energy flows and for targeting conservation efforts. Our research identifies substantial facilitation of stream macroinvertebrate communities by net-spinning caddisflies (Hydropsychidae) and seeks to untangle how the strength of facilitation varies along an environmental and engineer density gradient. We quantified macroinvertebrates associated with caddisfly engineered retreats versus neighboring rock substrates using surveys of five study sites from headwaters to the mainstream of the Gunnison River, CO. Survey sites spanned an environmental harshness gradient quantified by discharge and caddisfly engineer densities ranged from 5-70 ind m2 along this gradient. Macroinvertebrate density was significantly higher in retreat structures than on surrounding rock substrates by as much as 5X, suggesting caddisfly retreats create hotspots of invertebrate density. Community facilitation varied predictably with caddisfly density gradients, but did not vary predictably along the environmental gradient, revealing that ecosystem engineered facilitation in lotic ecosystems is context dependent. Future analyses will focus on elucidating community characteristics associated with engineered structures and surrounding habitat along this gradient.
- Flow
- Community
- Invertebrate
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Presenters/Authors
Benjamin Tumolo
(), Montana State University, bbtumolo@gmail.com;
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Lindsey Albertson
(), Montana State University, lalbertson@stroudcenter.org;
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Melinda Daniels
(), Stroud Water Research Center, mdaniels@stroudcenter.org;
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