Multitrophic diversity effects of network degradation

摘要: Predicting the functional consequences of biodiversity loss in realistic, multitrophic communities remains a challenge. No existing biodiversity-ecosystem function study to date has simultaneously incorporated information on species traits, network topology, and extinction across multiple trophic levels, while all three factors are independently understood as critical drivers post-extinction structure function. We fill this gap by comparing simulated both within (monotrophic) (bitrophic) an ecological interaction estimated from spatially explicit field data tropical fecal detritus producer consumers (mammals dung beetles). trait-ordered beetle mammal separately (monotrophic extinction) coextinction beetles following (bitrophic extinction), according structure. also compared diversity effects bitrophic models using standard monotrophic (the daily production or consumption detritus) unique metric proportion that is consumed). found similar mono- effects, regardless which traits were used drive extinctions, yet divergent predictions when different measures used. The inclusion had little apparent effect qualitative relationship between These results contribute our growing understanding real systems underscore importance realistic metrics assessments ecosystem impacts degradation through loss.