Indirect contramensalism through trophic cascades between two omnivorous fishes
2003
Katano, Osamu | Aonuma, Yoshimasa | Nakamura, Tomoyuki | Yamamoto, Shoichiro
The impact of trophic cascades on the interspecific relationship between two omnivorous stream fish, ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis) and Japanese dace (Tribolodon hakonensis), were analyzed in experimental pools. Benthic algae grew on the pool beds, and macroinvertebrates colonized the pools. Ayu predominantly grazed the algae, occasionally forming territories. Japanese dace fed on both benthic algae and invertebrates when ayu were absent, and predominantly on invertebrates when ayu were present. The presence of Japanese dace reduced the number of invertebrates and increased algal biomass (chlorophyll a) through trophic cascades, but the effects of respiration and excretion of dace did not notably increase algal biomass probably because the water continuously pumped into the pools was already nutrient rich. The growth rate of ayu was enhanced in the presence of Japanese dace due to increased algal biomass. In contrast, as the number of ayu increased, the growth rate of Japanese dace was reduced because of the exploitation of benthic algae and occasional attacks by ayu on dace. The relationship between ayu and Japanese dace is not merely competitive, but partly indirect contramensalism through trophic cascades. The occasional attacks by ayu on Japanese dace were mainly directed at individuals moving near the pool beds and therefore might function to increase benthic algal resources by limiting grazing by dace. Corresponding Editor: K. O. Winemiller.
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