STARTER: Distinguishing Direct and Indirect Effects in Community Responses to Perturbation: An Experimental Approach

Franklin And Marshall College, Lancaster PA

Investigators

Abstract

This PI received a posdoctoral fellowship in 1997 to work on how ecological history affects the strength of trophic cascades in lakes. Dr. Fischer worked with Dr. Nelson Hairston at Cornell University for her fellowship. She is now in a tenure track position at Franklin and Marshall College and proposes to test the hypothesis that direct and indirect effects can be distinguished using simultaneous PRESS and PULSE perturbation experiments. She will do this by assessing the effects of the two types of manipulations on freshwater zooplankton communities and fish predators. She will conduct in situ mesocosm experiments and overall, will assess the breakpoint where a PULSE becomes a PRESS for freshwater zooplankton in the north temperate zone.