predator vs prey and predator populations change

Our findings highlight the importance of considering multi-trophic biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning in natural ecosystems.Īnthropogenic disturbance on natural environments demands a greater understanding of the consequences of biodiversity change on ecosystem functioning. Notably, we found prey diversity effects on predator–prey interactions whereas, we found no significant diversity effect on biomass within the same trophic level. By contrast, no clear effect was detected for predator diversity on prey biomass and transfer efficiency. We found higher prey diversity enhanced both diversity and biomass of predators, as well as trophic transfer efficiency, which may arise from more balanced diet and/or enhanced niche complementarity owing to higher prey diversity. Specifically, we investigated: (i) predator diversity effects on prey biomass and trophic transfer efficiency (using the biomass ratio of predator/prey as a proxy), (ii) prey diversity effects on predator biomass and trophic transfer efficiency, and (iii) the relationship between predator and prey diversity. Here we examined diversity and biomass of bacteria (prey) and nanoflagellates (predators), as well as their effects on trophic transfer efficiency in the East China Sea. However, this topic has rarely been explored for marine microbes, even though microbial biodiversity contributes significantly to marine ecosystem function and energy flows. The importance of biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning across trophic levels, especially via predatory–prey interactions, is receiving increased recognition.

Predator vs prey and predator populations change