10.5061/DRYAD.1V243
Lucero, Jacob E.
Brigham Young University
Allen, Phil S.
Brigham Young University
McMillan, Brock R.
Brigham Young University
Data from: Increased primary production from an exotic invader does not
subsidize native rodents
Dryad
dataset
2016
granivory
Achnatherum hymenoides
Elymus elymoides
2010-2011
2010-2014
preference
Peromyscus maniculatus
Dipodomys
Perognathus parvus
supplementation
invasion biology
2016-05-29T00:00:00Z
2016-05-29T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0131564
8800 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Invasive plants have tremendous potential to enrich native food webs by
subsidizing net primary productivity. Here, we explored how a potential
food subsidy, seeds produced by the aggressive invader cheatgrass (Bromus
tectorum), is utilized by an important guild of native consumers –
granivorous small mammals – in the Great Basin Desert, USA. In a series of
field experiments we examined 1) how cheatgrass invasion affects the
density and biomass of seed rain at the ecosystem-level; 2) how seed
resources from cheatgrass numerically affect granivorous small mammals;
and 3) how the food preferences of native granivores might mediate the
trophic integration of cheatgrass seeds. Relative to native productivity,
cheatgrass invasion increased the density and biomass of seed rain by over
2000% (P < 0.01) and 3500% (P < 0.01), respectively.
However, granivorous small mammals in native communities showed no
positive response in abundance, richness, or diversity to experimental
additions of cheatgrass seeds over one year. This lack of response
correlated with a distinct preference for seeds from native grasses over
seeds from cheatgrass. Our experiments demonstrate that increased primary
productivity associated with exotic plant invasions may not necessarily
subsidize consumers at higher trophic levels. In this context, cheatgrass
invasion could disrupt native food webs by providing less-preferred
resources that fail to enrich higher trophic levels.
Preference of native granivores for cheatgrass vs. native seedsPreference
of native granivores for seeds of Bromus tectorum, Elymus elymoides, and
Achnatherum hymenoides across 5 transects in the Great BasinPreference --
PUBLIC.csvSeed productivity in cheatgrass-invaded and non-invaded
habitatsPrimary productivity from seed rain across 3 paired
cheatgrass-invaded and non-invaded transects in the Great BasinSeed Rain
by Site -- PUBLIC.csvThe effect of cheatgrass supplementation on small
mammal communitiesThe effect of one year of experimental supplementation
of three independent small mammal communities in the Great Basin with
seeds of Bromus tectorumSupplementation -- PUBLIC.csv
USA
Rush Valley
Tooele County
Utah