Climatically driven changes in primary production propagate through trophic levels. (7th August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stoner, David C.; Sexton, Joseph O.; Choate, David M.; Nagol, Jyothy; Bernales, Heather H.; Sims, Steven A.; Ironside, Kirsten E.; Longshore, Kathleen M.; Edwards, Thomas C.
• Is Part Of: Global change biology. Volume 24:Number 10(2018)
• Page Start: 4453
• Page End: 4463
• Publication Date: 2018-08-07
• Subjects: carnivore -- climate -- herbivore -- NDVI -- phenology -- primary production -- satellite imagery -- trophic levels; Climatic changes -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Troposphere -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Biodiversity conservation -- Periodicals; Eutrophication -- Periodicals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14364
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1354-1013

Abstract

Abstract: Climate and land‐use change are the major drivers of global biodiversity loss. Their effects are particularly acute for wide‐ranging consumers, but little is known about how these factors interact to affect the abundance of large carnivores and their herbivore prey. We analyzed population densities of a primary and secondary consumer (mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, and mountain lion, Puma concolor ) across a climatic gradient in western North America by combining satellite‐based maps of plant productivity with estimates of animal abundance and foraging area derived from Global Positioning Systems telemetry data (GPS). Mule deer density exhibited a positive, linear relationship with plant productivity ( r 2 = 0.58), varying by a factor of 18 across the climate‐vegetation gradient (range: 38–697 individuals/100 km 2 ). Mountain lion home range size decreased in response to increasing primary productivity and consequent changes in the abundance of their herbivore prey (range: 20–450 km 2 ). This pattern resulted in a strong, positive association between plant productivity and mountain lion density ( r 2 = 0.67). Despite varying densities, the ratio of prey to predator remained constant across the climatic gradient (mean ± SE = 363 ± 29 mule deer/mountain lion), suggesting that the determinacy of the effect of primary productivity on consumer density was conserved across trophic levels. As droughts and longer term climate changes reduce the suitability of marginal habitats, consumer home ranges will expand in order for individuals to meet basic nutritional requirements. These changes portend decreases in the abundance of large‐bodied, wide‐ranging wildlife through climatically driven reductions in carrying capacity, as well as increased human–wildlife interactions stemming from anthropogenic land use and habitat fragmentation. Abstract : Changes in the abundance and distribution of wildlife species have economic consequences in terms of recreation, tourism, and agricultural damage. However, large, migratory species such as mule deer and mountain lions are difficult and expensive to enumerate and monitor. We used satellite imagery to model population densities of these species across a climatic gradient in western North America. Both species demonstrated highly predictable patterns in abundance with changes in plant productivity. These relationships can be used to predict changes in species abundance and distribution under differing climate and land‐use forecasts for western North America.