Allochthonous resources are less important for faunal communities on highly productive, small tropical islands

Steibl, Sebastian; Sigl, Robert; Bláha, Sanja; Drescher, Sophia; Gebauer, Gerhard; Gürkal, Elif; Hüftlein, Frederic; Satzger, Anna; Schwarzer, Michael; Seidenath, Dimitri; Welfenbach, Jana; Zinser, Raphael S.; Laforsch, Christian

doi:10.1002/ece3.8035

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…In general, the effects of above-ground animals on nutrient cycling are more pronounced in environments with abiotic constraints on nutrient cycling (Malhi et al 2022;Wall et al 2008). For instance, seabird-transported nutrient subsidies have a weaker relative impact on local terrestrial communities in highly-productive, tropical islands compared to high-latitude islands (Steibl et al 2021), whereas prey carcasses can affect local plant communities on the tundra for a decade or more (Danell et al 2002). These general factors (patch size, frequency/density, diversity, and ecosystem productivity) may have context-dependent effects within any given system.…”

Section: Predicting Where and When Patchy Indirect Effects Are Importantmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patchy indirect effects: predators contribute to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem function via localized pathways

Johnson‐Bice

Gable

Roth

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Predators are widely recognized for their irreplaceable roles regulating the abundance and altering the traits of lower trophic levels. Predators also have irreplaceable roles in shaping community interactions and ecological processes via highly localized pathways, irrespective of their influence on prey density or behavior. We synthesized empirical and theoretical research describing how predators have indirect ecological effects confined to discrete patches on the landscape, processes we have termed patchy indirect effects of predation. Predators generate patchy indirect effects via three main pathways: generating and distributing prey carcasses, creating biogeochemical hotspots by concentrating nutrients derived from prey, and killing ecosystem engineers that create patches. In each pathway, the indirect ecological effects are limited to discrete areas with measurable spatial and temporal boundaries (i.e., patches). Our synthesis reveals the diverse and complex ways that predators indirectly affect other species via discrete patches, ranging from mediating scavenger interactions to interspecific parasite/disease transmission risk, and from altering ecosystem biogeochemistry to facilitating local species biodiversity. We also show how existing multi-scale ecological frameworks (metapopulation, meta-ecosystem, and patch dynamics concepts) offer insight into the mechanisms underlying the formation of these patches within ecosystems. We then provide basic guidelines on how these effects can be quantified at both the patch and landscape scales, and discuss how these predator-mediated patches ultimately increase landscape heterogeneity and contribute to ecosystem functioning. Whereas density- and trait-mediated indirect effects of predation generally occur through population-scale changes, patchy indirect effects of predation occur through individual- and patch-level pathways. Our synthesis provides a more holistic view of the functional role of predation in ecosystems by addressing how predators create patchy landscapes via localized pathways, in addition to influencing the abundance and behavior of lower trophic levels.

show abstract

Section: Predicting Where and When Patchy Indirect Effects Are Importantmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patchy indirect effects: predators contribute to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem function via localized pathways

Johnson‐Bice

Gable

Roth

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In general, the effects of above‐ground animals on nutrient cycling are expected to be more pronounced in environments with abiotic constraints on nutrient cycling (Malhi et al 2022). For instance, seabird‐transported nutrient subsidies have a weaker relative impact on local terrestrial communities in highly‐productive, tropical islands compared to high‐latitude islands (Steibl et al 2021), whereas prey carcasses can affect plants on the Arctic tundra for a decade or more (Danell et al 2002).…”

Section: Predicting Where and When Patchy Indirect Effects Are Importantmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patchy indirect effects of predation: predators contribute to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem function via localized pathways

Johnson‐Bice,

Gable,

Roth

et al. 2023

Oikos

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Predators are widely recognized for their irreplaceable roles in influencing the abundance and traits of lower trophic levels. Predators also have irreplaceable roles in shaping community interactions and ecological processes via highly localized pathways (i.e. effects with well‐defined and measurable spatio–temporal boundaries), irrespective of their influence on prey density or behavior. We synthesized empirical and theoretical research describing how predators – particularly medium‐ and large‐sized carnivores – have indirect ecological effects confined to discrete landscape patches, processes we have termed ‘patchy indirect effects (PIEs) of predation'. Predators generate PIEs via three main localized pathways: generating and distributing prey carcasses, creating ecological hotspots by concentrating nutrients derived from prey, and killing ecosystem engineers that create patches. In each pathway, the indirect effects are limited to discrete areas with measurable spatial and temporal boundaries (i.e. patches). Our synthesis reveals the diverse and complex ways that predators indirectly affect other species via patches, ranging from mediating scavenger interactions to influencing parasite/disease transmission risk, and from altering ecosystem biogeochemistry to facilitating local biodiversity. We provide basic guidelines on how these effects can be quantified at the patch and landscape scales, and discuss how predator‐mediated patches ultimately contribute to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem functioning. Whereas density‐ and trait‐mediated indirect effects of predation generally occur through population‐scale changes, PIEs of predation occur through individual‐ and patch‐level pathways. Our synthesis provides a more holistic view of the functional role of predation in ecosystems by addressing how predators create patchy landscapes via localized pathways, in addition to influencing the abundance and behavior of lower trophic levels.

show abstract

“…In general, the effects of above-ground animals on nutrient cycling are more pronounced in environments with abiotic constraints on nutrient cycling (Wall et al 2008;Malhi et al 2022). For instance, seabird-transported nutrient subsidies have a weaker relative impact on local terrestrial communities in highly-productive, tropical islands compared to high-latitude islands (Steibl et al 2021), whereas prey carcasses can affect local plant communities on the tundra for a decade or more (Danell et al 2002). These general factors (patch size, frequency/density, diversity, and ecosystem productivity) may have context-dependent effects within any given system.…”

Section: Identifying and Quantifying Patchy Indirect Effects Of Preda...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Patchy indirect effects: how predators drive landscape heterogeneity and influence ecosystem dynamics via localized pathways

Johnson‐Bice

Gable

Roth

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Predators are widely recognized for their irreplaceable roles in regulating the abundance and altering the traits of lower trophic levels. Yet, predators also have irreplaceable roles in shaping community interactions and ecological processes in highly localized pathways, irrespective of their influence on prey density or behavior. We introduce a conceptual framework, patchy indirect effects, that outlines how predators indirectly affect other organisms via landscape patches. We focus on three main pathways and provide examples and detailed case studies herein: generating and distributing prey carcasses, creating biogeochemical hotspots by concentrating nutrients derived from prey, and killing ecosystem engineers that create patches. In each pathway, indirect effects of predation are localized within discrete areas with measurable spatial and temporal boundaries. Whereas density- and trait-mediated indirect effects function via population-scale changes, the patchy indirect effects concept outlines how predators drive landscape heterogeneity and influence ecosystem dynamics – including scavenger interactions, nutrient cycling, parasite/disease transmission risk, and local biodiversity – through pathways that function at individual- and patch-level scales. Our synthesis provides a more holistic view of the functional role of predation in ecosystems by addressing how predators create patchy landscapes via localized pathways, in addition to influencing the abundance and behavior of lower trophic levels.

show abstract

Allochthonous resources are less important for faunal communities on highly productive, small tropical islands

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creat ive Commo ns Attri bution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cited by 3 publications

References 66 publications

Patchy indirect effects: predators contribute to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem function via localized pathways

Patchy indirect effects: predators contribute to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem function via localized pathways

Patchy indirect effects of predation: predators contribute to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem function via localized pathways

Patchy indirect effects: how predators drive landscape heterogeneity and influence ecosystem dynamics via localized pathways

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