

@mastersthesis {7224,
	title = {Temperature effects on food web interactions: {From} lakes to landscapes},
	year = {2014},
	note = {3633596},
	school = {Dartmouth College},
	type = {phdPh.{D}.},
	address = {Ann Arbor},
	abstract = {Temperature has powerful effects on all scales of biological organization from biochemical reactions to ecosystem processes. Despite the well-appreciated influence and thorough understanding of the physiological and population consequences of temperature, it is difficult to predict how changing temperatures might restructure biological communities. One reason for this disconnect involves a lack of understanding of how temperature can alter biological interactions between species. I add to the understanding of the effects of temperature on species interactions by exploring 1) how temperature alters the success of Daphnia lumholtzi - a non-native cladoceran zooplanker-by changing species interactions and 2) the quality of a key ecological subsidy. I first addressed how temperature and increases in cyanobacteria alter resource competition between Daphnia lumholtzi and the native Daphnia pulex. I combined a laboratory competition experiment and a mesocosm experiment to show that while D. lumholtzi may benefit from increases in temperature, associated increased cyanobacterial blooms may hinder its performance. Secondly, I conducted a field mesocosm experiment and a laboratory growth experiment to suggest that organismal thermal sensitivity may predict the outcome of temperature-mediated species interactions, and that D. lumholtzi may benefit from warmer water temperatures. Subsequently, I provide support the hypothesis that variable thermal sensitivities among a sunfish predator, D. lumholtzi, and D. pulex can generate temperature-dependent enemy release using both a mathematical model and a field experiment. Lastly, I addressed the potential for climate warming to impact lakes by altering the quality of ecological subsidies. I show that experimental soil warming can alter the chemical composition of deciduous leaves, the physical and chemical environment of the aquatic ecosystems to which leaves were added, and the pelagic food web. Compared to leaves from ambient-temperate soils, leaves from warmed soils decreased water column phosphorus and dissolved organic carbon, reducing bacterial densities. However, the diminished carbon and phosphorus resulting from soil warming also increased light availability that ultimately stimulated cladoceran zooplankton relative to ambient-temperature leaves. These results highlight the importance of conducting research across ecosystem boundaries to accurately predict the ecological consequences of climate change.},
	keywords = {0285:Agronomy, 0329:Ecology, Agronomy, Biological sciences, Climate change, Community ecology, Competition, Ecology, Freshwater ecosystems, Invasive species, Species interactions},
	url = {http://search.proquest.com/docview/1611215443?accountid=14270},
	author = {Fey, Samuel Butler}
}
