Patch size drives colonization by aquatic insects, with minor priority effects of a cohabitant

Patch size is one of the most important factors affecting the distribution and abundance of species, and recent research has shown that patch size is an important niche dimension affecting community structure in aquatic insects. Building on this result, we examined the impact of patch size in conjunction with presence of larval anurans on colonization by aquatic insects. Hyla chrysoscelis (Cope’s gray treefrog) larvae are abundant and early colonists in fishless lentic habitats, and these larvae can fill multiple ecological roles. By establishing larvae in mesocosms prior to colonization, we were able to assess if H. chrysoscelis larvae have priority effects on aquatic insect assemblages. We conducted a series of three experiments in naturally-colonized experimental landscapes to test whether (1) H. chrysoscelis larval density affects insect colonization, (2) variation in patch size affects insect colonization, and (3) the presence and larval density of H. chrysoscelis shifts colonizati...

斑块大小是影响物种分布与个体多度的关键因子之一，近期研究表明，斑块大小亦是调控水生昆虫群落结构的重要生态位维度。基于上述研究结论，本研究探究了斑块大小与无尾两栖类幼体共存状态对水生昆虫定殖过程的综合影响。科珀灰树蛙（*Hyla chrysoscelis*）幼体在无鱼静水生境中数量丰富且属于早期定殖类群，该类幼体可承担多种生态功能。通过在水生昆虫定殖前于中型实验生态箱（mesocosms）中接入该树蛙幼体，我们得以评估科珀灰树蛙幼体是否会对水生昆虫群落产生优先效应。我们在可自然定殖的实验景观中开展了三组系列实验，以验证以下三个假设：(1) 科珀灰树蛙幼体密度是否会影响昆虫定殖过程；(2) 斑块大小的变化是否会影响昆虫定殖过程；(3) 科珀灰树蛙的存在及其幼体密度是否会改变定殖……