Size-dependent species removal impairs ecosystem functioning in a large-scale tropical field experiment

摘要: A major challenge of ecological research is to assess the functional consequences species richness loss over time and space in global biodiversity hotspots, where extinctions are happening at an unprecedented rate. To address this issue, greater realism needs be incorporated into both conceptual experimental approaches. Here we propose a model that incorporates body size as critical aspect community responses environmental change, which tested Western Amazonian rain forest, one most speciose ecosystems on planet. We employed exclosure removal experiment (replicated under 10 microhabitats four climatic conditions) manipulated access two types resource by whole dung carrion beetles (>60 species), depending their size. Our 400 independent measurements revealed changes number groups, temporal patterns composition, all affected burial rates, key ec...