9411856 Kareiva The study of ominvores (animals that feed at more than one trophic level) has lagged behind studies of more specialized feeders; there have been no experimental studies of the roles of omnivores in natural communities. Yet omnivores are abundant in most natural communities. Through a series of manipulative field experiements, this project attempts to determine how omnivory influences arthropod assemblages, characterize the community effects of omnivory based on size structure of predator species, and predict the role of omnivory in stabilizing or destabilizing terrestrial ecosystems. This research will improve our fundamental understanding of food web dynamics and the operation of ecosystems. The results will have application in ecosystem management, management of biological reserves, and conservation of biodiversity.
