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Article
Effects of the Frog Eleutherodactylus coqui on Invertebrates and Ecosystem Processes at Two Scales in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico
Journal of Tropical Ecology (2003)
  • Karen H. Beard, Utah State University
Abstract
Determining the ubiquity of top-down control effects of predators on their prey and ecosystem processes is important for understanding community and ecosystem-level consequences that may result from predator loss. We conducted experiments at two spatial scales to investigate the effects of terrestrial frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui) on aerial and litter invertebrates, plant growth and herbivory, and litter decomposition. At both scales, frogs reduced aerial invertebrates and leaf herbivory, but had no effect on litter invertebrates. At the smaller scale, frogs increased foliage production rates, measured as the number of new leaves and new leaf area produced, by 80% and decomposition rates by 20%. The influence of E. coqui on increasing primary productivity and decomposition rates at the smaller scale appeared to be a result of elimination and excretion rather than of controlling prey. While the results provide evidence for frogs controlling herbivorous prey at both scales, species effects on ecosystem processes were only detectable at the smaller scale. The results highlight the difficulties in conducting experiments at large spatial scales. The findings from this study imply that the loss of amphibians and other species of higher trophic levels may affect nutrient cycling rates in tropical forests.
Keywords
  • decomposing leaf litter,
  • top-down,
  • microbial biomass,
  • hurricane Hugo,
  • food webs,
  • soil decline damage,
  • communities,
  • population
Disciplines
Publication Date
2003
Publisher Statement
This is a final accepted manuscript. The published version may be accessed here http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0266467403006011
The publisher retains the copyright to this work and may require a subscription to access the published version.
Please use publisher's recommended citation.
Citation Information
Karen H. Beard, Anne K. Eschtruth, Kristina A. Vogt, Daniel J. Vogt and Frederick N. Scatena (2003). The effects of the frog Eleutherodactylus coqui on invertebrates and ecosystem processes at two scales in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 19, pp 607-617. doi:10.1017/S0266467403006011.