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Top-down versus bottom-up limitation in benthic infaunal communities: Direct and indirect effects

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Abstract

Top-down effects of predators and bottom-up effects related to resource availability can be important in determining community structure and function through both direct and indirect processes. Their relative influence may vary among habitats. We examined the effects of nutrient enhancement and predation in southeastern North Carolina to determine relative effects on benthic macrofaunal communities. Short-term nutrient additions and predator exclusions were conducted in two estuaries to examine main and interactive effects on benthic microalgae and infauna. This experimental approach was complemented by comparisons of microalgal biomass, infaunal abundance and composition, predator abundance and predator exclusion among four estuarine systems that varied in background nutrient levels. In the short-term experiments, nutrient enhancement induced increased microalgal biomass but had limited effects on abundances or sizes of infauna. Predator exclusion increased the density of sedentary and near-surface dwelling fauna, but we did not observe interactions between predation and responses to nutrient additions as might be predicted from a simple cascade model. General patterns of abundance were explained to a larger extent by interannual and amongestuary pattems. These results indicate a lack of simple trophic cascade responses for this community over a short time scale and little evidence for local interactive effects. The lack of interactive effects may reflect the opportunistic nature of the dominant infaunal species and potentially different time and spatial scales for the effects of predation and resource controls.

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  1. Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, 28409, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

    Martin H. Posey, Troy D. Alphin, David G. Lindquist & Michael A. Mallin

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 28403, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

    Martin H. Posey, Lawrence B. Cahoon & David G. Lindquist

  3. Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, U.S. Geological Survey, 1100 North Mineral Springs Road, 46304, Porter, Indiana, USA

    Meredith B. Nevers

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  1. Martin H. Posey
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Posey, M.H., Alphin, T.D., Cahoon, L.B. et al. Top-down versus bottom-up limitation in benthic infaunal communities: Direct and indirect effects. Estuaries 25, 999–1014 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02691347

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