Terrestrial Herbivores Alter Stream Function

What is it about?

Plants are food sources for a vast diversity of organisms. To survive, plants rapidly respond to feeding attacks by defending themselves. In our study, we show that plant-herbivore interactions can have spill-over consequences on the functioning of adjacent ecosystems. Fallen plant litter supplies the major food source for communities of animals residing in streams, and we show that herbivore attack alters falling leaves and consequently slows aquatic energy capture.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Understanding complex interactions are essential for predicting ecological responses to natural and human-driven change, including raising global temperatures and nitrogen deposition.