Extreme rainfall events alter the trophic structure in bromeliad tanks across the Neotropics

Gustavo Q. Romero (), Nicholas A. C. Marino, A. Andrew M. MacDonald, Régis Céréghino, M. Kurtis Trzcinski, Dimaris Acosta Mercado, Céline Leroy, Bruno Corbara, Vinicius F. Farjalla, Ignacio M. Barberis, Olivier Dézerald, Edd Hammill, Trisha B. Atwood, Gustavo C. O. Piccoli, Fabiola Ospina Bautista, Jean-François Carrias, Juliana S. Leal, Guillermo Montero, Pablo A. P. Antiqueira, Rodrigo Freire, Emilio Realpe, Sarah L. Amundrud, Paula M. Omena, Alice B. A. Campos, Pavel Kratina, Eoin J. O’Gorman and Diane S. Srivastava
Additional contact information
Gustavo Q. Romero: University of Campinas (UNICAMP)
Nicholas A. C. Marino: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), CP 68020
A. Andrew M. MacDonald: Centre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity (CESAB-FRB)
Régis Céréghino: Université de Toulouse, CNRS
M. Kurtis Trzcinski: University of British Columbia
Dimaris Acosta Mercado: University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez Campus
Céline Leroy: Univ. Montpellier, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD
Bruno Corbara: CNRS, LMGE (Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement)
Vinicius F. Farjalla: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, PO Box 68020
Ignacio M. Barberis: Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2125ZAA
Olivier Dézerald: INRAE, Agrocampus Ouest
Edd Hammill: Utah State University
Trisha B. Atwood: Utah State University
Gustavo C. O. Piccoli: University of São Paulo State (UNESP/IBILCE). 15054 - 000
Fabiola Ospina Bautista: Universidad de los Andes
Jean-François Carrias: CNRS, LMGE (Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement)
Juliana S. Leal: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), CP 68020
Guillermo Montero: Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2125ZAA
Pablo A. P. Antiqueira: University of Campinas (UNICAMP)
Rodrigo Freire: Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2125ZAA
Emilio Realpe: Universidad de los Andes
Sarah L. Amundrud: University of British Columbia
Paula M. Omena: University of Campinas (UNICAMP)
Alice B. A. Campos: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), CP 68020
Pavel Kratina: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
Eoin J. O’Gorman: University of Essex
Diane S. Srivastava: University of British Columbia

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Changes in global and regional precipitation regimes are among the most pervasive components of climate change. Intensification of rainfall cycles, ranging from frequent downpours to severe droughts, could cause widespread, but largely unknown, alterations to trophic structure and ecosystem function. We conducted multi-site coordinated experiments to show how variation in the quantity and evenness of rainfall modulates trophic structure in 210 natural freshwater microcosms (tank bromeliads) across Central and South America (18°N to 29°S). The biomass of smaller organisms (detritivores) was higher under more stable hydrological conditions. Conversely, the biomass of predators was highest when rainfall was uneven, resulting in top-heavy biomass pyramids. These results illustrate how extremes of precipitation, resulting in localized droughts or flooding, can erode the base of freshwater food webs, with negative implications for the stability of trophic dynamics.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17036-4

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