Ungulate carcasses perforate ecological filters and create biogeochemical hotspots in forest herbaceous layers allowing trees a competitive advantage

Joseph K. Bump, Christopher R. Webster, John A. Vucetich, Rolf O. Peterson, Joshua M. Shields, Matthew D. Powers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

93 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ecological filters and nutrient heterogeneity are important in the function of ecosystems. Herbaceous layers alter forest ecosystems by filtering tree species during early stages of tree reproduction and influencing nutrient cycling. Important aspects about how tree species successfully establish below and extend above this ecological filter are unanswered in forest ecology. We experimentally tested the effects of large ungulate carcasses on the filtering function of herbaceous layers. Even well-utilized carcasses created unexpected disturbances that reduced herbaceous cover, which effectively perforated the herbaceous layer filter that can differentially influence tree reproduction. Carcasses also created lasting biogeochemical "hotspots" in forest soils that may help maintain plant biodiversity by creating resource heterogeneity and shifting competitive relationships. Because the spatial distribution of carcasses is influenced by predators, these data establish an unrecognized link between large carnivores, prey carcasses, and ecosystem processes. This link supports a novel understanding of disturbance by large herbivores in forest ecosystems by demonstrating an important interaction between predator-prey functional traits and tree seedling dynamics on either side of a major ecological filter.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)996-1007
Number of pages12
JournalEcosystems
Volume12
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2009

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Special thanks to Dave Stimac, Caitlin Bump, Sam Gardner, Brett Huntzinger, Peter Hurley, Amy Schrank, Brian Henry, and Jim Schmierer. Research was supported by a Biosphere Atmosphere Research & Training fellowship (NSF IGERT grant 9972803) and an NSF (DEB-0424562) grant to R.O.P. and J.A.V. The research described in this paper has also been funded in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Graduate or Undergraduate Program (EPA GRO grant F5F71445 to J.K.B) EPA has not officially endorsed this publication and the views expressed herein may not reflect the views of the EPA. Experiments complied with current USA law.

Keywords

  • Disturbance
  • Ecological filter
  • Forest biodiversity
  • Forest ecology
  • Heterogeneity
  • Patch dynamics
  • Regeneration niche
  • Resource pulses
  • Spatial pattern
  • Trophic cascades

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