Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
8846604 | Applied Soil Ecology | 2018 | 11 Pages |
Abstract
Decomposition is a key ecosystem service that reduces non-living organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil. In this study, we examine the responses by fly (Diptera) communities to molluscicide-poisoned apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) cadavers in a tropical rice production landscape. Fewer molluscicide-poisoned cadavers were colonised by decomposer flies (niclosamideâ¯=â¯61% of cadavers with fly larvae; methaldehydeâ¯=â¯53%; Camellia sp. seed extract [saponin]â¯=â¯50%) compared to control (freezer-killed) cadavers (81%). Metaldehyde, niclosamide and saponin reduced the abundance (average 51% reduction), biomass-density (average 63% reduction) and species richness (average 38% reduction) of flies emerging from the snail cadavers. The decay of control cadavers was generally faster (57% more tissue removed over 3â¯days) than molluscicide-treated cadavers. We suggest that poisoned carcasses potentially affect ecological communities across a range of trophic levels.
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Authors
Finbarr G. Horgan, Carmencita C. Bernal, Socrates Letana, Alberto I. Naredo, Daniel Ramp, Maria Liberty P. Almazan,