Properties of vertebrate predator–prey networks in the high Arctic
Abstract Predation is an important ecological process that can significantly impact the maintenance of ecosystem services. In arctic environments, the relative ecological importance of predation is thought to be increasing due to climate change, partly because of increased productivity with rising t...
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crwiley:10.1002/ece3.11470 2024-09-15T18:02:13+00:00 Properties of vertebrate predator–prey networks in the high Arctic Abrham, Muzit Norén, Karin Bartolomé Filella, Jordi Angerbjörn, Anders Lecomte, Nicolas Pečnerová, Patrícia Freire, Susana Dalerum, Fredrik Polarforskningssekretariatet Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas 2024 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11470 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ece3.11470 en eng Wiley http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ecology and Evolution volume 14, issue 6 ISSN 2045-7758 2045-7758 journal-article 2024 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11470 2024-08-30T04:12:32Z Abstract Predation is an important ecological process that can significantly impact the maintenance of ecosystem services. In arctic environments, the relative ecological importance of predation is thought to be increasing due to climate change, partly because of increased productivity with rising temperatures. Therefore, understanding predator–prey interactions in arctic ecosystems is vital for the sustainable management of these northern regions. Network theory provides a framework for quantifying the structures of ecological interactions. In this study, we use dietary observations on mammalian and avian predators in a high arctic region, including isolated peninsulas on Ellesmere Island and north Greenland, to construct bipartite trophic networks. We quantify the complexity, specialization, and nested as well as modular structures of these networks and also determine if these properties varied among the peninsulas. Mammal prey remains were the dominant diet item for all predators, but there was spatial variation in diet composition among peninsulas. The predator–prey networks were less complex, had more specialized interactions, and were more nested and more modular than random expectations. However, the networks displayed only moderate levels of modularity. Predator species had less specialized interactions with prey than prey had with predators. All network properties differed among the peninsulas, which highlights that ecosystems often show complex responses to environmental characteristics. We suggest that gaining knowledge about spatial variation in the characteristics of predator–prey interactions can enhance our ability to manage ecosystems exposed to environmental perturbations, particularly in high arctic environments subject to rapid environmental change. Article in Journal/Newspaper Climate change Ellesmere Island Greenland North Greenland Wiley Online Library Ecology and Evolution 14 6 |
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Wiley Online Library |
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English |
description |
Abstract Predation is an important ecological process that can significantly impact the maintenance of ecosystem services. In arctic environments, the relative ecological importance of predation is thought to be increasing due to climate change, partly because of increased productivity with rising temperatures. Therefore, understanding predator–prey interactions in arctic ecosystems is vital for the sustainable management of these northern regions. Network theory provides a framework for quantifying the structures of ecological interactions. In this study, we use dietary observations on mammalian and avian predators in a high arctic region, including isolated peninsulas on Ellesmere Island and north Greenland, to construct bipartite trophic networks. We quantify the complexity, specialization, and nested as well as modular structures of these networks and also determine if these properties varied among the peninsulas. Mammal prey remains were the dominant diet item for all predators, but there was spatial variation in diet composition among peninsulas. The predator–prey networks were less complex, had more specialized interactions, and were more nested and more modular than random expectations. However, the networks displayed only moderate levels of modularity. Predator species had less specialized interactions with prey than prey had with predators. All network properties differed among the peninsulas, which highlights that ecosystems often show complex responses to environmental characteristics. We suggest that gaining knowledge about spatial variation in the characteristics of predator–prey interactions can enhance our ability to manage ecosystems exposed to environmental perturbations, particularly in high arctic environments subject to rapid environmental change. |
author2 |
Polarforskningssekretariatet Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Abrham, Muzit Norén, Karin Bartolomé Filella, Jordi Angerbjörn, Anders Lecomte, Nicolas Pečnerová, Patrícia Freire, Susana Dalerum, Fredrik |
spellingShingle |
Abrham, Muzit Norén, Karin Bartolomé Filella, Jordi Angerbjörn, Anders Lecomte, Nicolas Pečnerová, Patrícia Freire, Susana Dalerum, Fredrik Properties of vertebrate predator–prey networks in the high Arctic |
author_facet |
Abrham, Muzit Norén, Karin Bartolomé Filella, Jordi Angerbjörn, Anders Lecomte, Nicolas Pečnerová, Patrícia Freire, Susana Dalerum, Fredrik |
author_sort |
Abrham, Muzit |
title |
Properties of vertebrate predator–prey networks in the high Arctic |
title_short |
Properties of vertebrate predator–prey networks in the high Arctic |
title_full |
Properties of vertebrate predator–prey networks in the high Arctic |
title_fullStr |
Properties of vertebrate predator–prey networks in the high Arctic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Properties of vertebrate predator–prey networks in the high Arctic |
title_sort |
properties of vertebrate predator–prey networks in the high arctic |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11470 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ece3.11470 |
genre |
Climate change Ellesmere Island Greenland North Greenland |
genre_facet |
Climate change Ellesmere Island Greenland North Greenland |
op_source |
Ecology and Evolution volume 14, issue 6 ISSN 2045-7758 2045-7758 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11470 |
container_title |
Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
14 |
container_issue |
6 |
_version_ |
1810439655632404480 |