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Ecology

Title:		Cryptic biodiversity effects: importance of functional redundancy revealed through addition of food web complexity
Author(s):		Philpott SM; Pardee GL; Gonthier DJ;
Address:		"Department of Environmental Sciences, 2801 West Bancroft Street, Mail Stop 604, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio 43606, USA. philpottsm@gmail.com"
Journal Title:		Ecology
Year:		2012
Volume:		93
Issue:		5
Page Number:		992 - 1001
DOI:		10.1890/11-1431.1
ISSN/ISBN:		0012-9658 (Print) 0012-9658 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Interactions between predators and the degree of functional redundancy among multiple predator species may determine whether herbivores experience increased or decreased predation risk. Specialist parasites can modify predator behavior, yet rarely have cascading effects on multiple predator species and prey been evaluated. We examined influences of specialist phorid parasites (Pseudacteon spp.) on three predatory ant species and herbivores in a coffee agroecosystem. Specifically, we examined whether changes in ant richness affected fruit damage by the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) and whether phorids altered multi-predator effects. Each ant species reduced borer damage, and without phorids, increasing predator richness did not further decrease borer damage. However, with phorids, activity of one ant species was reduced, indicating that the presence of multiple ant species was necessary to limit borer damage. In addition, phorid presence revealed synergistic effects of multiple ant species, not observed without the presence of this parasite. Thus, a trait-mediated cascade resulting from a parasite-induced predator behavioral change revealed the importance of functional redundancy, predator diversity, and food web complexity for control of this important pest"
Keywords:		Animals Ants/*parasitology *Biodiversity Coffea Coleoptera/*physiology Diptera/*physiology *Food Chain Fruit Herbivory Host-Parasite Interactions Predatory Behavior;
Notes:		"MedlinePhilpott, Stacy M Pardee, Gabriella L Gonthier, David J eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2012/07/07 Ecology. 2012 May; 93(5):992-1001. doi: 10.1890/11-1431.1"