HR: 1330h
AN: B33E-20    [Abstracts]
TI: Effect of Culverts on Predator-Prey Interactions in a Tropical Stream.
AU: * Hein, C L
EM: clhein@cc.usu.edu
AF: Ecology Center, Utah State University, UMC 5205, Logan, UT 84322 United States
AU: Kikkert, D A
EM: davek@cc.usu.edu
AF: Ecology Center, Utah State University, UMC 5205, Logan, UT 84322 United States
AU: Crowl, T A
EM: facrowl@cc.usu.edu
AF: Ecology Center, Utah State University, UMC 5205, Logan, UT 84322 United States
AB: As part of a biocomplexity project in Puerto Rico, we use river and road networks as a platform to understand the interactions between stream biota, the physical environment, and human activity. Specifically, we ask if humans affect aquatic organisms through road building and recreational activities. Culverts have been documented to impede or slow migration of aquatic biota. This is especially important in these streams because all of the freshwater, stream species have diadramous life cycles. If culverts do act as bottlenecks to shrimp migrations, we expect altered predator-prey interactions downstream through density-dependent predation dynamics. In order to determine how roads may affect predation rates on upstream migrating shrimp, we parameterized functional response curves for mountain mullet (Agonostomus monticola) consuming shrimp (Xiphocaris sp.) using artificial mesocosm experiments. We then used data obtained from underwater videography to determine how culverts decrease the rate and number of shrimp moving upstream. These data were combined in a predator-prey model to quantify the effects of culverts on localized shrimp densities and fish predation.
UR: http://biocomplexity.cnr.colostate.edu
DE: 1803 Anthropogenic effects
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly