Multi-species Interactions: Indirect Effects

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2002, Volume 23

Abstract

Ecologists often study the dynamics of single-species populations or the interactions between two species, but real ecological systems comprise multiple species. Unique effects arising from the complexity of having more than two species present are termed indirect effects: effects of one species on a second species that arise only in the presence of one or more other species. In this laboratory, we will observe guppies foraging on Daphnia in the presence and absence of aquatic plants to test for indirect effects of the plant species on the predator-prey interaction.

Keywords:  foraging activity, community ecology, multispecies interactions, indirect effects, predator-prey interactions

University of Chicago (2001)