- Title
- Trophic isotopic carbon variation increases with pond’s hydroperiod: evidence from an Austral ephemeral ecosystem
- Creator
- Dalu, Tatenda, Wasserman, Ryan J, Froneman, P William, Weyl, Olaf, L F
- Subject
- To be catalogued
- Date
- 2017
- Type
- text
- Type
- article
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10962/467244
- Identifier
- vital:76844
- Identifier
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-08026-6
- Description
- Trophic variation in food web structure occurs among and within ecosystems. The magnitude of variation, however, differs from system to system. In ephemeral pond ecosystems, temporal dynamics are relatively more important than in many systems given that hydroperiod is the ultimate factor determining the presence of an aquatic state. Here, using stable isotopes we tested for changes in trophic chain length and shape over time in these dynamic aquatic ecosystems. We found that lower and intermediate trophic level structure increased over time. We discuss these findings within the context of temporal environmental stability. The dynamic nature of these ephemeral systems seems to be conducive to greater levels of intermediate and lower trophic level diversity, with omnivorous traits likely being advantageous.
- Format
- 8 pages, pdf
- Language
- English
- Relation
- Scientifi Reports, Dalu, T., Wasserman, R.J., Froneman, P.W. and Weyl, O.L., 2017. Trophic isotopic carbon variation increases with pond’s hydroperiod: evidence from an Austral ephemeral ecosystem. Scientific Reports, 7(1), p.7572, Scientifi Reports volume 7 number 1 1 8 2017 2045-2322
- Rights
- Publisher
- Rights
- Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Scientific Reports Statement (https://www.nature.com/srep/open-access)
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Collections
Froneman, Pierre William (Prof)
RU South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)
RU Department of Zoology and Entomology
SDG 14. Life Below Water
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