In collaboration with Drs. Gina Wimp, Leslie Ries and Danny Lewis at Georgetown University, we are investigating the effects of habitat edges on community composition and trophic structure. As human development encroaches on natural habitats, they are becoming dominated by edges and we understand very little of how edges affect species interactions. Spartina alterniflora is the dominant cordgrass in salt marshes at low elevations and is abutted by another marsh grass, Spartina patens, along its upland border. The edge between these two congeners, although distinct, does not contrast vertically as is common with other habitat edges (e.g. forest and meadow).
The two Spartina species are of relatively similar height but differ in the quality of habitat and resources that they provide to herbivores and predators. The herbivore communities found in S. alterniflora and S. patens are completely different, but many of the same predators and parasitoids can be found associated with both Spartina species and are known to move between the two habitat types; we study how each species responds to the habitat edge using a resource-based model (Wimp et al. 2011).
Most studies of habitat edges are largely observational as it is difficult to manipulate an edge (e.g. between a forest and a meadow) without changing both habitat structure and quality. We are able to independently manipulate habitat quality and habitat structure in the Spartina system, which allows us to investigate the mechanisms that promote edge effects observed in nature (Wimp et al., 2019, Wimp and Murphy in review). The edge between S. alterniflora and S. patens therefore provides a unique opportunity to study the effects of edge habitats on community structure and species’ responses.
Relevant Publications
Wimp, G. M. and S. M. Murphy. 2021. Habitat edges alter arthropod community composition. Landscape Ecology 36: 2849-2861.
Wimp, G. M., L. Ries, D. Lewis, and S. M. Murphy. 2019. Habitat edge responses of generalist predators is predicted by prey and structural resources. Ecology 100(6): e02662.
Ries, L. S. M. Murphy, G. M. Wimp and R. Fletcher. 2017. Closing persistent gaps in knowledge about edge ecology. Current Landscape Ecology Reports 2:30-41.
Murphy, S. M., A. H. Battocletti*, R. M. Tinghitella, G. M. Wimp and L. Ries. 2016. Complex community and evolutionary responses to habitat fragmentation and habitat edges: what can we learn from insect science? Current Opinion in Insect Science 14: 61-65.
Wimp, G. M., S. M. Murphy, D. Lewis and L. Ries. 2011. Do edge responses cascade up or down a multi-trophic food web? Ecology Letters 14: 863-870.
The two Spartina species are of relatively similar height but differ in the quality of habitat and resources that they provide to herbivores and predators. The herbivore communities found in S. alterniflora and S. patens are completely different, but many of the same predators and parasitoids can be found associated with both Spartina species and are known to move between the two habitat types; we study how each species responds to the habitat edge using a resource-based model (Wimp et al. 2011).
Most studies of habitat edges are largely observational as it is difficult to manipulate an edge (e.g. between a forest and a meadow) without changing both habitat structure and quality. We are able to independently manipulate habitat quality and habitat structure in the Spartina system, which allows us to investigate the mechanisms that promote edge effects observed in nature (Wimp et al., 2019, Wimp and Murphy in review). The edge between S. alterniflora and S. patens therefore provides a unique opportunity to study the effects of edge habitats on community structure and species’ responses.
Relevant Publications
Wimp, G. M. and S. M. Murphy. 2021. Habitat edges alter arthropod community composition. Landscape Ecology 36: 2849-2861.
Wimp, G. M., L. Ries, D. Lewis, and S. M. Murphy. 2019. Habitat edge responses of generalist predators is predicted by prey and structural resources. Ecology 100(6): e02662.
Ries, L. S. M. Murphy, G. M. Wimp and R. Fletcher. 2017. Closing persistent gaps in knowledge about edge ecology. Current Landscape Ecology Reports 2:30-41.
Murphy, S. M., A. H. Battocletti*, R. M. Tinghitella, G. M. Wimp and L. Ries. 2016. Complex community and evolutionary responses to habitat fragmentation and habitat edges: what can we learn from insect science? Current Opinion in Insect Science 14: 61-65.
Wimp, G. M., S. M. Murphy, D. Lewis and L. Ries. 2011. Do edge responses cascade up or down a multi-trophic food web? Ecology Letters 14: 863-870.