Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.1038/srep02036
Titel (primär) Chemical and natural stressors combined: from cryptic effects to population extinction
Autor Gergs, A.; Zenker, A.; Grimm, V.; Preuss, T.G.
Quelle Scientific Reports
Erscheinungsjahr 2013
Department OESA
Band/Volume 3
Seite von art. 2036
Sprache englisch
Keywords Population dynamics; Freshwater ecology; Ecological modelling; Environmental sciences
UFZ Querschnittsthemen RU5;
Abstract In addition to natural stressors, populations are increasingly exposed to chemical pollutants released into the environment. We experimentally demonstrate the loss of resilience for Daphnia magna populations that are exposed to a combination of natural and chemical stressors even though effects on population size of a single stressor were cryptic, i.e. hard to detect statistically. Data on Daphnia population demography and along with model-based exploration of our predator-prey system revealed that direct trophic interactions changed the population size-structure and thereby increased population vulnerability to the toxicant which acts in a size selective manner. Moreover, population vulnerability to the toxicant increases with predator size and predation intensity whereas indirect trait-mediated interactions via predator kairomones may buffer chemical effects to a certain extent. Our study demonstrates that population size can be a poor endpoint for risk assessments of chemicals and that ignoring disturbance interactions can lead to severe underestimation of extinction risk.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=13793
Gergs, A., Zenker, A., Grimm, V., Preuss, T.G. (2013):
Chemical and natural stressors combined: from cryptic effects to population extinction
Sci. Rep. 3 , art. 2036 10.1038/srep02036