Reciprocal Role of Salamanders in Aquatic Energy Flow Pathways
Many species of salamanders (newts and salamanders per se) have a pivotal role in energy flow pathways as they include individuals functioning as prey, competitors, and predators. Here, I synthesize historic and contemporary research on the reciprocal ecological role of salamanders as predators and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/1/32 |
| _version_ | 1797999151861989376 |
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| author | Javier Sánchez-Hernández |
| author_facet | Javier Sánchez-Hernández |
| author_sort | Javier Sánchez-Hernández |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many species of salamanders (newts and salamanders per se) have a pivotal role in energy flow pathways as they include individuals functioning as prey, competitors, and predators. Here, I synthesize historic and contemporary research on the reciprocal ecological role of salamanders as predators and prey in aquatic systems. Salamanders are a keystone in ecosystem functioning through a combination of top−down control, energy transfer, nutrient cycling processes, and carbon retention. The aquatic developmental stages of salamanders are able to feed on a wide variety of invertebrate prey captured close to the bottom as well as on small conspecifics (cannibalism) or other sympatric species, but can also consume terrestrial invertebrates on the water surface. This capacity to consume allochthonous resources (terrestrial invertebrates) highlights the key role of salamanders as couplers of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (i.e., aquatic−terrestrial linkages). Salamanders are also an important food resource for other vertebrates such as fish, snakes, and mammals, covering the energy demands of these species at higher trophic levels. This study emphasizes the ecological significance of salamanders in aquatic systems as central players in energy flow pathways, enabling energy mobility among trophic levels (i.e., vertical energy flow) and between freshwater and terrestrial habitats (i.e., lateral energy flow). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:00:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cb391bc1299d489eb75b5d6ac1b4eefe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:00:03Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-cb391bc1299d489eb75b5d6ac1b4eefe2022-12-22T04:28:40ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182020-01-011213210.3390/d12010032d12010032Reciprocal Role of Salamanders in Aquatic Energy Flow PathwaysJavier Sánchez-Hernández0Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, 28933 Madrid, SpainMany species of salamanders (newts and salamanders per se) have a pivotal role in energy flow pathways as they include individuals functioning as prey, competitors, and predators. Here, I synthesize historic and contemporary research on the reciprocal ecological role of salamanders as predators and prey in aquatic systems. Salamanders are a keystone in ecosystem functioning through a combination of top−down control, energy transfer, nutrient cycling processes, and carbon retention. The aquatic developmental stages of salamanders are able to feed on a wide variety of invertebrate prey captured close to the bottom as well as on small conspecifics (cannibalism) or other sympatric species, but can also consume terrestrial invertebrates on the water surface. This capacity to consume allochthonous resources (terrestrial invertebrates) highlights the key role of salamanders as couplers of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (i.e., aquatic−terrestrial linkages). Salamanders are also an important food resource for other vertebrates such as fish, snakes, and mammals, covering the energy demands of these species at higher trophic levels. This study emphasizes the ecological significance of salamanders in aquatic systems as central players in energy flow pathways, enabling energy mobility among trophic levels (i.e., vertical energy flow) and between freshwater and terrestrial habitats (i.e., lateral energy flow).https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/1/32amphibiaenergy flowhabitat couplingpredator–prey interactionstop–down controltrophic cascadestrophic ecologyurodela |
| spellingShingle | Javier Sánchez-Hernández Reciprocal Role of Salamanders in Aquatic Energy Flow Pathways Diversity amphibia energy flow habitat coupling predator–prey interactions top–down control trophic cascades trophic ecology urodela |
| title | Reciprocal Role of Salamanders in Aquatic Energy Flow Pathways |
| title_full | Reciprocal Role of Salamanders in Aquatic Energy Flow Pathways |
| title_fullStr | Reciprocal Role of Salamanders in Aquatic Energy Flow Pathways |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reciprocal Role of Salamanders in Aquatic Energy Flow Pathways |
| title_short | Reciprocal Role of Salamanders in Aquatic Energy Flow Pathways |
| title_sort | reciprocal role of salamanders in aquatic energy flow pathways |
| topic | amphibia energy flow habitat coupling predator–prey interactions top–down control trophic cascades trophic ecology urodela |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/1/32 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT javiersanchezhernandez reciprocalroleofsalamandersinaquaticenergyflowpathways |