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Community Ecology of Invasions: Direct and Indirect Effects of Invasive Fish and Bullfrogs

This article explores how multiple invaders, such as mosquitofish and bullfrogs, influence native communities and each other. It presents the results of a mesocosm experiment investigating the effects on native species and the food web. The findings suggest that invader effects are species-specific and varied, with mosquitofish suppressing zooplankton and causing cascading effects on phytoplankton. The study also reveals that invader effects were largely additive, and invaders did not negatively affect each other in the short-term experiment.

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Community Ecology of Invasions: Direct and Indirect Effects of Invasive Fish and Bullfrogs

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  1. Community Ecology of Invasions: Direct and Indirect Effects of Invasive Fish and Bullfrogs

  2. Part 1: Background Information

  3. How do multiple invaders influence native communities?

  4. Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus = [Rana catesbeiana])

  5. Through what mechanisms do invasive mosquitofish and bullfrogs influence native community members and one another? Approach: Mesocosm Experiment

  6. Mesocosm Experiment Experimental Design 1.) Natives 2.) Natives + Bullfrogs 3.) Natives + Mosquitofish 4.) Natives + Bullfrogs + Mosquitofish

  7. Daphnia sp. Pacific Chorus Frog Native Community California Newt Ramshorn Snail Western Toad

  8. Mesocosm Food Web Newts Snails Treefrogs Zooplankton Toads California Newt Periphyton (attached algae) Phytoplankton (suspended algae) Western Toad

  9. Part 2: Results and Interpretation

  10. Mesocosm Results AmphibianSurvival

  11. Sublethal Fish Effects

  12. Amphibian Mass

  13. Zooplankton & PhytoplanktonResponses

  14. SnailResponses

  15. Conclusions • Effects of invaders on native amphibians were species-specific and varied with palatability and competitive ability of natives • Mosquitofish suppressed zooplankton, with cascading effects on phytoplankton • Invader effects were largely additive • Invaders did not negatively effect one another in a short-term experiment

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