Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Trophic basis of production in tropical headwater streams, Puerto Rico: an assessment of the importance of allochthonous resources in fueling food webs

  • Primary Research Paper
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The relative importance of allochthonous and autochthonous resources in fueling tropical headwater streams remains an open topic. We combined estimates of secondary production and assessment of its trophic basis to determine which resources were responsible for animal production. We studied benthic insect assemblages in two streams in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. Habitat-weighted production estimates were similar in both streams (528.5 and 591.5 mg m−2 year−1), but production was over twice as high in pool versus riffle habitats. The mayfly Neohagenulus (Leptophlebiidae) was a major contributor to total production (259.1 and 352.2 mg m−2 year−1). All taxa relied heavily on amorphous detritus and plant tissue. Aquatic insect production was similar to that reported for shrimp assemblages in the same study area, but low relative to temperate region estimates. The trophic basis of production appears to be allochthonous organic matter, which agrees with the small size and closed canopy cover over the study streams. This is the first study quantifying the production and trophic basis of the non-shrimp macroinvertebrate assemblage in tropical island streams. We also provide support for the importance of riparian vegetation as the main energy sources for stream tropical stream food webs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker, A. S. & A. J. McLachlan, 1979. Food preferences of tanypodinae larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae). Hydrobiologia 62: 283–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benke, A. C., 1993. Concepts and patterns of invertebrate production in running waters. Verhandlungen der Internationalen Vereinigung fur Theorestische und Angewandte Limnologie 25: 15–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benke, A. C., 2011. Secondary production, quantitative food webs, and trophic position. Nature Education Knowledge 2: 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benke, A. C., 2018. River food webs: an integrative approach to bottom-up flow webs, top-down impact webs, and trophic position. Ecology 99: 1370–1381.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benke, A. C. & A. D. Huryn, 2017. Secondary production and quantitative food webs. In Lamberti, G. A. & F. R. Hauer (eds), Methods in Stream Ecology, 3rd ed. Academic Press, London UK: 235–254.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Benke, A. C. & J. B. Wallace, 1980. Trophic basis of production among net-spinning caddisflies in a southern appalachian stream. Ecology 6: 108–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benke, A. C. & D. L. Jacobi, 1994. Production dynamics and resource utilization of snag-dwelling mayflies in a blackwater river. Ecology 75: 1219–1232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benke, A. C., J. B. Wallace, 1977. Trophic basis of production among riverine caddisflies: implications for food web analysis. Ecology 78: 1132–1145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benke, A. C. & J. B. Wallace, 2015. High secondary production in a Coastal Plain river is dominated by snag invertebrates and fuelled mainly by amorphous detritus. Freshwater Biology 60: 236–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benke, A. C., A. D. Huryn, L. A. Smock & J. B. Wallace, 1999. Length-mass relationships for freshwater macroinvertebrates in North America with particular reference to the Southeastern United States. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 18: 308–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyero, L., A. Ramírez, D. Dudgeon & R. G. Pearson, 2009. Are tropical streams really different? Journal of the North American Benthological Society 28: 397–403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brand, C. & M. L. Miserendino, 2011. Life history strategies and production of caddisflies in a perennial headwater stream in Patagonia. Hydrobiologia 673: 137–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cardona-Rivera, G. A. & A. Ramírez, 2016. Predation of Telebasis vulnerata (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) eggs by detritivorous caddisfly larva, Phylloicus pulchrus (Trichoptera: Calamoceratidae). International Journal of Odonatology 19: 253–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlisle, D. M. & W. H. Clements, 2003. Growth and secondary production of aquatic insects along a gradient of Zn contamination in Rocky Mountain streams. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 22: 582–597.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colón-Gaud, C., M. R. Whiles, S. S. Kilham, K. Lips, C. M. Pringle, S. Connelly & S. D. Peterson, 2009. Assessing ecological responses to catastrophic amphibian declines: patterns of macroinvertebrate production and food web structure in upland Panamanian streams. Limnology and Oceanography 54: 331–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colón-Gaud, C., M. R. Whiles, R. Brenes, S. S. Kilham, K. R. Lips, C. M. Pringle, S. Connelly & S. D. Peterson, 2010a. Potential functional redundancy and resource facilitation between tadpoles and insect grazers in tropical headwater streams. Freshwater Biology 55: 2077–2088.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colón-Gaud, C., M. R. Whiles, K. R. Lips, C. M. Pringle, S. S. Kilham, S. Connelly, R. Brenes & S. D. Peterson, 2010b. Stream invertebrate responses to a catastrophic decline in consumer diversity. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 29: 1185–1198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Covich, A. P., 1988. Atyd shrimp in the headwaters of the Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico: filter feeding in natural and artificial streams. Verh Internat Verein Limnol 23: 2108–2113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Covich, A. P., T. A. Crowl, S. L. Johnson, D. Varza & D. L. Certain, 1991. Post-Hurricane Hugo Increases in Atyid Shrimp Abundances in a Puerto Rican Montane Stream. Biotropica 23: 448–454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cross, W. F., A. P. Covich, T. A. Crowl, J. P. Benstead & A. Ramírez, 2008. Secondary production, longevity and resource consumption rates of freshwater shrimps in two tropical streams with contrasting geomorphology and food web structure. Freshwater Biology 53: 2504–2519.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dudgeon, D., F. K. W. Cheung & S. K. Mantel, 2010. Foodweb structure in small streams: do we need different models for the tropics? Journal of the North American Benthological Society 29: 395–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Effron, B. & R. Tibishirani, 1993. An Introduction to the Bootstrap. Monographs on Statistical and Applied Probability, Vol. 57. Chapman and Hall, Washington DC.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ewel, J. J. & J. L. Whitmore, 1973. The ecological life zones of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. vol Research Paper ITF-018. USDA Forest Service, Institute of Tropical Forestry.

  • Ferreira, W. R., R. Ligeiro, D. R. Macedo, R. M. Hughes, P. R. Kaufmann, L. G. Oliveira & M. Callisto, 2015. Is the diet of a typical shredder related to the physical habitat of headwater streams in the Brazilian Cerrado? Annales de Limnologie-International Journal of Limnology 51: 115–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flecker, A. S. & B. Feifarek, 1994. Disturbance and the temporal variability of invertebrate assemblage in two Andean streams. Freshwater Biology 31: 131–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flint, O. S. & E. Masteller, 1993. Emergence composition and phenology of Trichoptera from a tropical rainforest stream at El Verde, Puerto Rico. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 66: 140–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frauendorf, T. C., C. Colón-Gaud, M. R. Whiles, T. R. Barnum, K. R. Lips, C. M. Pringle & S. S. Kilham, 2013. Energy flow and the trophic basis of macroinvertebrate and amphibian production in a neotropical stream food web. Freshwater Biology 58: 1340–1352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García, P., R. Novelo-Gutiérrez, G. Vázquez & A. Ramírez, 2016. Allochthonous vs. autochthonous energy resources for aquatic insects in cloud forest streams, Veracruz. Mexico. Hidrobiológica 26: 483–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García-Martinó, A. R., G. S. Warner, F. N. Scatena & D. L. Civco, 1996. Rainfall, runoff and elevation relationships in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico. Caribbean Journal of Science 32: 413–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • González, G., D. J. Lodge, B. A. Richardson & M. J. Richardson, 2014. A canopy trimming experiment in Puerto Rico: the response of litter decomposition and nutrient release to canopy opening and debris deposition in a subtropical wet forest. Forest Ecology and Management 332: 32–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graça, M. A. S., C. Cressa, M. O. Gessner, M. J. Feio, K. A. Callies & C. Barrios, 2001. Food quality, feeding preferences, survival and growth of shredders from temperate and tropical streams. Freshwater Biology 46: 947–957.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grubaugh, J. W., J. B. Wallace & E. S. Houston, 1996. Longitudinal changes of macroinvertebrate communities along an Appalachian stream continuum. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and aquatic Sciences 53: 896–909.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, R. O., B. W. Taylor & A. S. Flecker, 2011. Detritivorous fish indirectly reduce insect secondary production in a tropical river. Ecosphere 2: 135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hauer, F. R. & A. C. Benke, 1991. Rapid growth of snag-dweling chiromidsin a blackwater river: the influence of temperature discharge. Journal of the North American Benthology Society 10: 154–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henareh-Khalyani, A., W. A. Gould, E. Harmsen, A. Terando, M. Quinones & J. A. Collazo, 2016. Climate change implications for tropical islands: interpolating and interpreting statistically downscaled GCM projections for management and planning. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology 55: 265–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huryn, A. D. & J. B. Wallace, 2000. Life history and production of stream insects. Annual Review of Entomology 45: 83–110.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, J. K., & S. G. Fisher, 1986. Secondary production, emergence, and export of aquatic insects of a Sonoran Desert stream. Ecology 67: 629–638.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen, D., C. Cressa, J. M. Mathooko & D. Dudgeon, 2008. Macroinvertebrates: composition, life histories and production. In Dudgeon, D. (ed.), Tropical Stream Ecology. Academic Press, San Diego: 66–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, R. C., H. S. Jin, M. M. Carreiro & J. D. Jack, 2013. Macroinvertebrate community structure, secondary production and trophic-level dynamics in urban streams affected by non-point-source pollution. Freshwater Biology 58: 843–857.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, A. O. Y. & D. Dudgeon, 2008. Food resources of shredders and other benthic macroinvertebrates in relation to shading conditions in tropical Hong Kong streams. Freshwater Biology 53: 2011–2025.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linares, M. S., M. Callisto & J. C. Marques, 2018. Compliance of secondary production and eco-exergy as indicators of benthic macroinvertebrates assemblages’ response to canopy cover conditions in Neotropical headwater streams. Science of the Total Environment 613: 1543–1550.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macías, N. A., C. Colón-Gaud, J. W. Duggins & A. Ramírez, 2014. Do omnivorous shrimp influence mayfly nymph life history traits in a tropical island stream? Revista de Biología Tropical 62: 41–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • March, J. G. & C. M. Pringle, 2003. Food web structure and basal resource utilization along a tropical island stream continuum, Puerto Rico. Biotropica 35: 84–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • March, J. G., C. M. Pringle, M. J. Townsend & A. I. Wilson, 2002. Effects of freshwater shrimp assemblages on benthic communities along an altitudinal gradient of a tropical island stream. Freshwater Biology 47: 377–390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moretti, M. S., R. D. Loyola, B. Becker & M. Callisto, 2009. Leaf abundance and phenolic concentrations codetermine the selection of case-building materials by Phylloicus sp. (Trichoptera, Calamoceratidae). Hydrobiologia 630: 199–206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moulton, T. P., M. L. De Souza, R. M. L. Silveira & F. A. M. Krsulovic, 2004. Effects of ephemeropterans and shrimps on periphyton and sediments in a coastal stream (Atlantic forest, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Journal of the North American Benthological Society 23: 868–881.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neres-Lima, V., F. Machado-Silva, D. F. Baptista, R. B. S. Oliveira, P. M. Andrade, A. F. Oliveira, C. Y. Sasada-Sato, E. F. Silva-Junior, R. Feijó-Lima, R. Angelini, P. B. Camargo & T. P. Moulton, 2017. Allochthonous and autochthonous carbon flows in food webs of tropical forest streams. Freshwater Biology 62: 1012–1023.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perez-Reyes, O., T. A. Crowl & A. P. Covich, 2015. Effects of food supplies and water temperature on growth rates of two species of freshwater tropical shrimps. Freshwater Biology 60: 1514–1524.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pringle, C. M. & T. Hamazaki, 1998. The role of omnivores in a neotropical stream: separating diurnal and nocturnal effects. Ecology 79: 269–280.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pringle, C. M., G. A. Blake, A. P. Covich, K. M. Buzby & A. Finley, 1993. Effects of omnivorous shrimp in a montane tropical stream: sediment removal, disturbance of sessile invertebrates and enhancement of understory algal biomass. Oecologia 93: 1–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pringle, C. M., N. Hemphill, W. H. McDowell, A. Bednarek & J. G. March, 1999. Linking species and ecosystems: different biotic assemblages cause interstream differences in organic matter. Ecology 80: 1860–1872.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramírez, A. & L. R. Hernández-Cruz, 2004. Aquatic insect assemblages in shrimp-dominated tropical streams, Puerto Rico. Biotropica 36: 259–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramírez, A. & C. M. Pringle, 1998. Structure and production of a benthic insect assemblage in a neotropical stream. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 17: 443–463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramírez, A. & C. M. Pringle, 2006. Fast growth and turnover of chironomid assemblages in response to stream phosphorus levels in a tropical lowland landscape. Limnology and Oceanography 51: 189–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rincón, J. & I. Martínez, 2006. Food quality and feeding preferences of Phylloicus sp. (Trichoptera: Calamoceratidae). Journal of the North American Benthological Society 25: 209–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosas-Rodriguez, K. G., 2016. Assemblage structure, production, and food web dynamics of macroinvertebrates in tropical island headwater streams. (Master’s thesis). Georgia Southern University. Statesboro, Georgia. http://libraryguides.vu.edu.au/apa-referencing/theses

  • Rosi-Marshall, E. J. & J. B. Wallace, 2002. Invertebrate food webs along a stream resource gradient. Freshwater Biology 47: 129–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosi-Marshall, E. J., H. A. Wellard Kelly, R. O. Hall Jr. & K. Vallis, 2016. Methods for quantifying aquatic macroinvertebrate diets. Freshwater Science 35: 229–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Runck, C., 2007. Macroinvertebrate production and food web energetics in an industrially contaminated stream. Ecological Applications 17: 740–753.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salas, M. & D. Dudgeon, 2003. Life histories, production dynamics and resource utilisation of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) in two tropical Asian forest streams. Freshwater Biology 48: 485–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scatena, F. N., J. F. Blanco, K. H. Beard, R. B. Waide, A. E. Lugo, N. Brokaw, W. L. Silver, B. L. Haines & J. K. Zimmerman, 2012. Disturbance regime. In Brokaw, N., T. A. Crowl, A. E. Lugo, W. H. McDowell, F. N. Scatena, R. B. Waide & M. R. Willig (eds), A Caribbean Forest Tapestry: The Multidimensional Nature of Disturbance and Response. Oxford University Press, New York: 201–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stagliano, D. M. & M. R. Whiles, 2002. Macroinvertebrate production and trophic structure in a tallgrass prairie headwater stream. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 21: 97–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vannote, R. L., G. W. Minshall, K. W. Cummins, J. R. Sedell & C. E. Cushing, 1980. The river continuum concept. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 37: 130–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villarini, G. & G. A. Vecchi, 2013. Projected increases in North Atlantic tropical cyclone intensity from CMIP5 models. Journal of Climate 26: 3231–3240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, J. B. & M. E. Gurtz, 1986. Response of Baetis mayflies (Ephemeroptera) to catchment logging. American Midland Naturalist 115: 25–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, J. B., S. L. Eggert, J. L. Meyer & J. R. Webster, 1997. Multiple trophic levels of a forest stream linked to terrestrial litter inputs. Science 277: 102–104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walther, D. A. & M. R. Whiles, 2011. Secondary production in a Southern Illinois headwater stream: relationships between organic matter standing stocks and macroinvertebrate productivity. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 30: 357–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whiting, D. P., M. R. Whiles & M. L. Stone, 2011. Patterns of macroinvertebrate production, trophic structure, and energy flow along a tallgrass prairie stream continuum. Limnology and Oceanography 56: 887–898.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiggins, G. B., 1996. Larvae of the North American caddisfly genera (Trichoptera). University of Toronto Press, Buffalo.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Winterbourn, M. J., S. Cadbury, C. Ilg & A. M. Milner, 2008. Mayfly production in a New Zealand glacial stream and the potential effect of climate change. Hydrobiologia 603: 211–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research (LUQ-LTER) program, National Science Foundation (DEB-1546686) and a National Science Foundation Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (DBI-0905345) awarded to C. Colón-Gaud. We thank numerous members of our laboratories and the El Verde Field Station technical staff for laboratory and field assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA

    Keysa G. Rosas & Checo Colón-Gaud

  2. Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Alonso Ramírez

Authors
  1. Keysa G. Rosas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Checo Colón-Gaud
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alonso Ramírez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alonso Ramírez.

Additional information

Handling editor: Marcelo S. Moretti

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rosas, K.G., Colón-Gaud, C. & Ramírez, A. Trophic basis of production in tropical headwater streams, Puerto Rico: an assessment of the importance of allochthonous resources in fueling food webs. Hydrobiologia 847, 1961–1975 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04224-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04224-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation