Higher predation risk for insect prey at low latitudes and elevations

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Roslin, Tomas ; Hardwick, Bess ; Novotny, Vojtech ; Petry, William K. ; Andrew, Nigel R. ; Asmus, Ashley ; Barrio, Isabel C. ; Basset, Yves ; Boesing, Andrea Larissa ; Bonebrake, Timothy C. ; Cameron, Erin K. ; Dattilo, Wesley ; Donoso, David A. ; Drozd, Pavel ; Gray, Claudia L. ; Hik, David S. ; Hill, Sarah J. ; Hopkins, Tapani ; Huang, Shuyin ; Koane, Bonny ; Laird-Hopkins, Benita ; Laukkanen, Liisa ; Lewis, Owen T. ; Milne, Sol ; Mwesige, Isaiah ; Nakamura, Akihiro ; Nell, Colleen S. ; Nichols, Elizabeth ; Prokurat, Alena ; Sam, Katerina ; Schmidt, Niels M. ; Slade, Alison ; Slade, Victor ; Suchankova, Alzbeta ; Teder, Tiit ; van Nouhuys, Saskya ; Vandvik, Vigdis ; Weissflog, Anita ; Zhukovich, Vital ; Slade, Eleanor M.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Science; v. 356, n. 6339, p. 3-pg., 2017-05-19.

Resumo

Biotic interactions underlie ecosystem structure and function, but predicting interaction outcomes is difficult. We tested the hypothesis that biotic interaction strength increases toward the equator, using a global experiment with model caterpillars to measure predation risk. Across an 11,660-kilometer latitudinal gradient spanning six continents, we found increasing predation toward the equator, with a parallel pattern of increasing predation toward lower elevations. Patterns across both latitude and elevation were driven by arthropod predators, with no systematic trend in attack rates by birds or mammals. These matching gradients at global and regional scales suggest consistent drivers of biotic interaction strength, a finding that needs to be integrated into general theories of herbivory, community organization, and life-history evolution. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 13/23457-6 - Projeto interface: relações entre estrutura da paisagem, processos ecológicos, biodiversidade e serviços ecossistêmicos
• Beneficiário: Jean Paul Walter Metzger
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOTA - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 14/11676-8 - Quantificando a base mecanicista de serviços ecossistêmicos associados à regulação de doenças em paisagens agrícolas
• Beneficiário: Elizabeth Stevens Nichols
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado