ALT (A) Example of simulated branching networks. Node color reflects disturbance value. (B) Density distributions of disturbance intensity. 3 networks of 50 patches were produced with varied branching probabilities, shown in different colors. The vertical line indicates the mean disturbance intensity at the headwaters. (C) Diagram of trophic interactions in a 3-species community. B is a basal species whose population is density-dependent. The consumer species C consumes B. The predator P is able to consume both B and C. Left: a simple linear food chain exists when P does not consume B. Moving to the right, B's biomass is converted to P biomass at higher efficiencies with greater attack rates. Arrow colors indicate the relative reliance of P on B and C. (D) Proportional contribution of B to P under different omnivory scenarios. The contribution changes with the relative density of B to C, and the rate of change is determined by attack rate and handling time