Exploring Fish Diversity as a Determinant of Ecosystem Properties in Aquatic Food Webs

I examined the effect of common carp across a gradient of fish richness in mesocosms. The invader reduced native fish production and the effect was reduced with increasing fish richness. The invertebrate community was modified by a top-down effect from the richness treatment, whereas the invader had a bottom up effect increasing primary production and altering the zooplankton community. Higher native diversity mitigated the impact of the invader confirming the need to consider biodiversity when predicting the impact of an invasive species. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Carey, Michael P.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Wahl, David H.

• Biology, Conservation

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3391895

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/87020