@article{demi_hughes_taylor_2022, title={Characterizing the role of phosphorus availability and periphytic algae in the food choice and performance of detritivorous caddisflies (Trichoptera:Limnephilidae)}, volume={41}, ISSN={2161-9549 2161-9565}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/717953}, DOI={10.1086/717953}, abstractNote={Organisms that rely on detritus as their primary food source may face particularly strong nutritional constraints on growth and development, given the characteristically poor quality of detrital resources. In freshwater ecosystems, the low content of P in detritus often limits detritivore growth. Additionally, a growing body of evidence suggests the biochemical composition of algae, such as essential fatty acids, can limit aquatic detritivore growth. We investigated feeding preference and growth responses of common aquatic detritivores by performing paired feeding-preference and growth experiments on 4 species of larval caddisflies (Trichoptera) from the family Limnephilidae: Asynarchus nigriculus, Anabolia bimaculata, Limnephilus externus, and Ecclisomyia sp. We manipulated both the P content and epiphytic algal biomass of a common detrital food resource (decomposing sedge [Carex sp.]) by conditioning the detritus under 2 different light (ambient, shaded) and P (ambient [low], +P) regimes. We tested 3 hypotheses that describe feeding preferences and performance under different scenarios of P limitation, algal limitation, and co-limitation by P and algae. We observed evidence of preferential feeding behavior for each of the 4 taxa, with 2 species exhibiting preferences for conditioned detritus with high algal biomass and 2 for detritus from the +P treatments. We observed agreement between feeding preferences and performance (growth, growth efficiency, mortality) for only 2 taxa, with A. nigriculus exhibiting higher growth rates and growth efficiency on their preferred high-P detritus, and L. externus experiencing lower mortality when reared on their preferred high algal biomass detritus. These findings provide an initial step toward characterizing the feeding preferences and performance responses of aquatic detritivores to 2 potentially common nutritional constraints: detrital P and algal supply.}, number={1}, journal={Freshwater Science}, publisher={University of Chicago Press}, author={Demi, Lee M. and Hughes, Donovan and Taylor, Brad W.}, year={2022}, month={Mar}, pages={18–32} }
 @article{balik_leitz_washko_cleveland_krejsa_perchik_stogsdill_vlah_demi_greig_et al._2022, title={Species-specific traits predict whole-assemblage detritus processing by pond invertebrates}, volume={199}, ISSN={0029-8549 1432-1939}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00442-022-05239-z}, DOI={10.1007/s00442-022-05239-z}, abstractNote={Functional trait diversity determines if ecosystem processes are sensitive to shifts in species abundances or composition. For example, trait variation suggests detritivores process detritus at different rates and make different contributions to whole-assemblage processing, which could be sensitive to compositional shifts. Here, we used a series of microcosm experiments to quantify species-specific coarse and fine particulate organic matter (CPOM and FPOM) processing for ten larval caddisfly species and three non-caddisfly species in high-elevation wetlands. We then compared trait-based models including life history, dietary, and extrinsic traits to determine which traits explained interspecific variation in detritus processing. Finally, we compared processing by mixed caddisfly assemblages in microcosms and natural ponds to additive predictions based on species-specific processing to determine if single-species effects are additive in multi-species assemblages. We found considerable interspecific variation in biomass-specific CPOM (13-fold differences) and FPOM (8-fold differences) processing. Furthermore, on a mass-specific basis, amphipods, chironomids, and caddisflies processed similar amounts of detritus, suggesting non-shredder taxa could process more than previously recognized. Trait models including dietary percent detritus, development rate, body size, and wetland hydroperiod explained 81 and 57% of interspecific variation in CPOM and FPOM processing, respectively. Finally, species-specific additive predictions were strikingly similar to mixed-assemblage processing in microcosms and natural ponds, with the largest difference being a 15% overestimate. Thus, additivity of species-specific processing suggests single-species rates may be useful for understanding functional consequences of shifting assemblages, and a trait-based approach to predicting species-specific processing could support generating additive predictions of whole-assemblage processing.}, number={4}, journal={Oecologia}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Balik, Jared A. and Leitz, Cameron and Washko, Susan E. and Cleveland, Brittney and Krejsa, Dianna M. and Perchik, Marieke E. and Stogsdill, Alexander and Vlah, Mike and Demi, Lee M. and Greig, Hamish S. and et al.}, year={2022}, month={Aug}, pages={951–963} }
 @article{demi_taylor_reading_tordoff_dunn_2021, title={Understanding the evolution of nutritive taste in animals: Insights from biological stoichiometry and nutritional geometry}, volume={6}, ISSN={["2045-7758"]}, DOI={10.1002/ece3.7745}, abstractNote={Abstract}, journal={ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION}, author={Demi, Lee M. and Taylor, Brad W. and Reading, Benjamin J. and Tordoff, Michael G. and Dunn, Robert R.}, year={2021}, month={Jun} }
 @article{demi_benstead_rosemond_maerz_2020, title={Experimental N and P additions relieve stoichiometric constraints on organic matter flows through five stream food webs}, volume={89}, ISSN={["1365-2656"]}, DOI={10.1111/1365-2656.13197}, abstractNote={Abstract}, number={6}, journal={JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY}, author={Demi, Lee M. and Benstead, Jonathan P. and Rosemond, Amy D. and Maerz, John C.}, year={2020}, month={Jun}, pages={1468–1481} }