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Network structure of vertebrate scavenger assemblages at the global scale : drivers and ecosystem functioning implications
ID
Sebastián-González, Esther
(
Author
),
ID
Morales-Reyes, Zebensui
(
Author
),
ID
Botella, Francisco
(
Author
),
ID
Naves-Alegre, Lara
(
Author
),
ID
Pérez-García, Juan M.
(
Author
),
ID
Mateo-Tomás, Patricia
(
Author
),
ID
Olea, Pedro P.
(
Author
),
ID
Moleón, Marcos
(
Author
),
ID
Magalhães Barbosa, Jomar
(
Author
),
ID
Jerina, Klemen
(
Author
),
ID
Krofel, Miha
(
Author
), et al.
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https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.05083
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Abstract
The organization of ecological assemblages has important implications for ecosystem functioning, but little is known about how scavenger communities organize at the global scale. Here, we test four hypotheses on the factors affecting the network structure of terrestrial vertebrate scavenger assemblages and its implications on ecosystem functioning. We expect scavenger assemblages to be more nested (i.e. structured): 1) in species%rich and productive regions, as nestedness has been linked to high competition for carrion resources, and 2) regions with low human impact, because the most efficient carrion consumers that promote nestedness are large vertebrate scavengers, which are especially sensitive to human persecution. 3) We also expect climatic conditions to affect assemblage structure, because some scavenger assemblages have been shown to be more nested in colder months. Finally, 4) we expect more organized assemblages to be more efficient in the consumption of the resource. We first analyzed the relationship between the nestedness of the scavenger assemblages and climatic variables (i.e. temperature, precipitation, temperature variability and precipitation variability), ecosystem productivity and biomass (i.e. NDVI) and degree of human impact (i.e. human footprint) using 53 study sites in 22 countries across five continents. Then, we related structure (i.e. nestedness) with its function (i.e. carrion consumption rate). We found a more nested structure for scavenger assemblages in regions with higher NDVI values and lower human footprint. Moreover, more organized assemblages were more efficient in the consumption of carrion. However, our results did not support the prediction that the structure of the scavenger assemblages is directly related to climate. Our findings suggest that the nested structure of vertebrate scavenger assemblages affects its functionality and is driven by anthropogenic disturbance and ecosystem productivity worldwide. Disarray of scavenger assemblage structure by anthropogenic disturbance may lead to decreases in functionality of the terrestrial ecosystems via loss of key species and trophic facilitation processes.
Language:
English
Keywords:
carrion
,
consumption rate
,
ecological networks
,
global change
,
macroecology
,
NDVI
Typology:
1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:
BF - Biotechnical Faculty
Publication status:
Published
Publication version:
Version of Record
Year:
2020
Number of pages:
Str. 1143-1155
Numbering:
Vol. 43, iss. 8
PID:
20.500.12556/RUL-116688
UDC:
591.5
ISSN on article:
1600-0587
DOI:
10.1111/ecog.05083
COBISS.SI-ID:
17850627
Publication date in RUL:
03.06.2020
Views:
1150
Downloads:
570
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Title:
Ecography
Publisher:
Munksgaard International Publishers
ISSN:
1600-0587
COBISS.SI-ID:
517696537
Licences
License:
CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Link:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Description:
This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
Licensing start date:
03.06.2020
Secondary language
Language:
Slovenian
Keywords:
mrhovina
,
stopnja hranjenja
,
ekološke mreže
,
globalne spremembe
,
makroekologija
,
mrhovinarji
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