Animal biodiversity and food web restoration based on large vertebrate carcasses
Carcasses of large vertebrate animals are integral elements in the natural environment. The aim of the present study is to clarify the relation between large carcasses and local ecosystems. It has been investigated which and how many animals are directly or indirectly involved into the carcass decom...
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| Format: | Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2014
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| Online Access: | https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-btu/frontdoor/index/index/docId/3075 https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-30752 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-btu/files/3075/Xiaoying_Gu.pdf |
| Summary: | Carcasses of large vertebrate animals are integral elements in the natural environment. The aim of the present study is to clarify the relation between large carcasses and local ecosystems. It has been investigated which and how many animals are directly or indirectly involved into the carcass decomposition process, and whether there is a succession of community pattern during different carcass decomposition stages. A special focus was on the question how the temporal and the spatial distribution of arthropods are influenced by the carcass and its properties. A new classification of decomposition stages is proposed based on a new openness index for a carcass. Three carcass food web models for the research area were composed dependent on different seasons in the course of the year: Carcass exposed in spring, summer, and winter, respectively. Subsequently, the feasibility of using carcasses as a tool for food web restoration on a regional scale has been discussed. From 2009 to 2011, in total, nine different carcasses from Meles meles, Capreolus capreolus, Cervus elaphus, and Sus scrofa were exposed in the research area, a former military training area situated in Eastern Germany. Pitfall traps were used to collect arthropods visiting the carcasses. Bird’s and Mammal’s attendance have been detected by automatic cameras and direct observation. In total, more than 112,000 arthropods from 25 taxa were identified. For Coleoptera Silphidae, Geotrupidae, Trogidae, Staphylinidae (partly) and Heteroptera the investigation could be carried out on species level. The existence of carcasses in the research area significantly increased arthropod diversity and abundance. Long term exposed carcasses significantly influenced vertebrates occurrence, vegetation and the surrounding soil as to diversity and various environmental conditions, respectively. The main consumers of carcasses in summer were various arthropods, Corvus corax and Haliaeetus albicilla. Besides the already well-known carrion arthropods, Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, ... |
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