Deforestation alters species interactions. Issue 2 (24th March 2023)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Deforestation alters species interactions. Issue 2 (24th March 2023)
- Main Title:
- Deforestation alters species interactions
- Authors:
- Howes, Benjamin
González‐Suárez, Manuela
Jensen, Henrik Jeldtoft
Anjos, Luiz dos
Develey, Pedro F.
Hatfield, Jack H.
Morante‐Filho, José Carlos
Uezu, Alexandre
Banks‐Leite, Cristina - Abstract:
- Abstract: Interspecific interactions are a major determinant of stability in ecological communities and are known to vary with biotic and abiotic conditions. Deforestation is the primary driver of the ongoing sixth mass extinction, yet its effect on species interactions remains largely unexplored. We investigate how deforestation affects species interactions using a complex systems model and a co‐occurrence dataset of 363 bird species, observed across 134 sites, from 5 regions across the Brazilian Atlantic Forest totalling 27, 226 interactions. Both theoretical and empirical results show that interspecific interactions vary non‐monotonically with forest cover and are more positive than average in areas with higher forest cover, and to a lesser extent in highly deforested areas. Observed differences in interactions reflect both species turnover and changes in pairwise interactions. Our results point to changes in stability across the gradient of deforestation that may lead to varying community resilience to environmental perturbations. Key Interdisciplinary Aspects: Species interactions are expected to vary due to the biological, chemical and physical changes caused by deforestation on their local environment. We use a mathematical complex systems approach, as well as ecological data, to show that species interactions are more positive in highly forested areas. We propose that the alteration of species interactions caused by deforestation will affect the stability ofAbstract: Interspecific interactions are a major determinant of stability in ecological communities and are known to vary with biotic and abiotic conditions. Deforestation is the primary driver of the ongoing sixth mass extinction, yet its effect on species interactions remains largely unexplored. We investigate how deforestation affects species interactions using a complex systems model and a co‐occurrence dataset of 363 bird species, observed across 134 sites, from 5 regions across the Brazilian Atlantic Forest totalling 27, 226 interactions. Both theoretical and empirical results show that interspecific interactions vary non‐monotonically with forest cover and are more positive than average in areas with higher forest cover, and to a lesser extent in highly deforested areas. Observed differences in interactions reflect both species turnover and changes in pairwise interactions. Our results point to changes in stability across the gradient of deforestation that may lead to varying community resilience to environmental perturbations. Key Interdisciplinary Aspects: Species interactions are expected to vary due to the biological, chemical and physical changes caused by deforestation on their local environment. We use a mathematical complex systems approach, as well as ecological data, to show that species interactions are more positive in highly forested areas. We propose that the alteration of species interactions caused by deforestation will affect the stability of communities and their resilience to future perturbations (e.g. climate change). Abstract : … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Natural sciences. Volume 3:Issue 2(2023)
- Journal:
- Natural sciences
- Issue:
- Volume 3:Issue 2(2023)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 3, Issue 2 (2023)
- Year:
- 2023
- Volume:
- 3
- Issue:
- 2
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2023-0003-0002-0000
- Page Start:
- n/a
- Page End:
- n/a
- Publication Date:
- 2023-03-24
- Subjects:
- complex systems -- deforestation -- ecological communities -- habitat loss -- species interactions
Science -- Periodicals
505 - Journal URLs:
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/26986248 ↗
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1002/ntls.20220027 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 2698-6248
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 26932.xml