Exploring Fish Diversity as a Determinant of Ecosystem Properties in Aquatic Food Webs

Abstract

I examined the effect of common carp across a gradient of fish richness in mesocosms. The invader reduced native fish production and the effect was reduced with increasing fish richness. The invertebrate community was modified by a top-down effect from the richness treatment, whereas the invader had a bottom up effect increasing primary production and altering the zooplankton community. Higher native diversity mitigated the impact of the invader confirming the need to consider biodiversity when predicting the impact of an invasive species. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).