Evidence for asymmetric competition among headwater stream vertebrates

The importance of competition among stream salamanders and other stream vertebrates in headwater systems is understudied. We conducted a replicated artificial stream experiment to evaluate competitive interactions among three common vertebrates. In this experiment, we measured change in body conditi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 2016-06, Vol.772 (1), p.207-213
Main Authors: Ennen, Joshua R, Davenport, Jon M, Alford, Kathlina F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedical and Life Sciences
body condition
Caudata
Creeks & streams
Desmognathus quadramaculatus
Ecology
Etheostoma
Etheostoma coosae
Fish
Fishes
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Freshwater ecology
interspecific competition
Life Sciences
predation
Primary Research Paper
Reptiles & amphibians
salamanders and newts
Semotilus atromaculatus
streams
Zoology
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Summary:The importance of competition among stream salamanders and other stream vertebrates in headwater systems is understudied. We conducted a replicated artificial stream experiment to evaluate competitive interactions among three common vertebrates. In this experiment, we measured change in body condition of salamanders in the black-bellied dusky complex (Desmognathus quadramaculatus/folkertsi) in the presence of two different fish species, Common Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) and Coosa Darter (Etheostoma coosae). There was no statistically significant change in body condition between the control and darter present treatments. However, salamander body condition was significantly reduced in the presence of the creek chubs suggesting an asymmetric competitive interaction between those two species. While predation is often cited as a potential mechanism limiting the distribution of stream species, the role of interspecific competition may be just as vital. Overall, our results highlight that competition, and not solely predation, may explain why some stream salamanders are restricted to headwater reaches.
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1007/s10750-016-2661-6