Abstract
A pulse-perturbation experiment, designed to assess the impact of top predators, resource availability, and the interaction between predators and resources, was conducted in the inquiline community found in a natural population of the pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea. Experimental manipulations of pitchers were removal of the top predator (the filter-feeding larvae of the mosquito Wyeomia smithii), addition of resources (mealworms), and the combination of the two. Pitchers were then censused every three days for 15 days. Top-predator removal had little effect on the remaining community, in part because mosquitoes rapidly recolonized the pitchers. Resource addition resulted in large, persistent increases in both bacterial and protozoan abundances but had no effect on rotifers and mites. Therefore, “top-down” effects were relatively weak. In contrast “bottom-up” effects were strong at the lowest trophic level (bacteria) but differentially affected species at a higher trophic level that feed on bacteria. Th...
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
