JPR Advance Access originally published online on October 17, 2005
Journal of Plankton Research 2005 27(12):1229-1238; doi:10.1093/plankt/fbi086
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Daphnia as keystone predators: effects on phytoplankton diversity and grazing resistance
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Corresponding Author: sarnelle{at}msu.edu
Received July 17, 2005; accepted in principle September 22, 2005; accepted for publication October 7, 2005; published online October 17, 2005
Communicating editor: K.J. Flynn
Theory predicts that a predator can promote coexistence among competing prey, and so enhance prey diversity (the keystone predation effect), by fostering dominance of slow-growing, consumption-resistant prey. In contrast, if the predator promotes dominance by fast-growing vulnerable prey, theory predicts that the predator is unlikely to promote prey diversity. Theory is silent about keystone predation effects when the predator does not cause a net change in the vulnerability of the prey assemblage. I present experimental evidence that Daphnia can act as a keystone predator without causing a net change in the grazing resistance of the phytoplankton assemblage. No change in resistance was observed, despite strong Daphnia effects on the species composition of the phytoplankton.
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