Shifts in consumer assemblages are linked to nutrient availability and ecosystem metabolism

Abstract

Nutrient availability, ecosystem productivity, and consumer assemblages are intricately linked through complex interactions and feedbacks. Nutrients influence the diversity and functional roles of consumers via shifts in resource quality and quantity, and consumers can alter ecosystem production and nutrient availability. However, our understanding of how characteristics of consumers respond to and influence concomitant shifts in nutrient availability and production is limited. We quantified the response of well-studied consumer assemblages (benthic invertebrates and zooplankton) to realistic nutrient loads that altered gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER). We fertilized 14 outdoor experimental ponds for 2 months and monitored total water column carbon (TC), nitrogen (TN), and phosphorus (TP), GPP, ER, and net ecosystem production (NEP) weekly. Then, we evaluated how fertilization and the variation in nutrients and metabolism caused by fertilization were related to shifts in consumer assemblages. Fertilization increased water column TN and TP and reduced TC:TP ratios, TN:TP ratios, and rates of GPP and ER. However, consumer assemblages were more tightly linked to variation in nutrient availability and production across ponds than to fertilization. Greater declines in benthic diversity occurred in ponds with higher average TN:TP ratios during the experiment. Consistent with predicted effects of cladocerans on nutrient availability, shifts in cladoceran abundances were positively associated with average water column TN:TP ratios during the experiment. Finally, elevated GPP and ER were associated with greater increases in the abundance of benthic invertebrate predators, suggesting the possibility of top-down control. Our study highlights the critical role of consumer-mediated processes in the interaction between nutrient availability and production. Manuscript HighlightsO_LIFertilization reduced pond gross primary production and ecosystem respiration rates. C_LIO_LIInvertebrate predator abundance was inversely related to gross primary production. C_LIO_LIShifts in consumer assemblages were tightly linked to nutrients and production. C_LI