Desert mammal populations are limited by introduced predators rather than future climate change.

摘要: Climate change is predicted to place up one in six species at risk of extinction coming decades, but probability likely be influenced further by biotic interactions such as predation. We use structural equation modelling integrate results from remote camera trapping and long-term (17-22 years) regional-scale (8000 km2) datasets on vegetation small vertebrates (greater than 38 880 captures) explore how processes two key abiotic drivers influence the structure a diverse assemblage desert biota central Australia. our models predict changes rainfall wildfire are cover productivity dominant impacts predators their primary rodent prey over 100-year timeframe. Our show that, while may decline due climate change, strongest negative effect populations this system top-down suppression introduced predators.