Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Trait-dependent response of dung beetle populations to tropical forest conversion at local and regional scales
AU - Nichols, Elizabeth
AU - Uriarte, Maria
AU - Bunker, Daniel E.
AU - Favila, Mario E.
AU - Slade, Eleanor M.
AU - Vulinec, Kevina
AU - Larsen, Trond
AU - Vaz-de-Mello, Fernando Z.
AU - Louzada, Julio
AU - Naeem, Shahid
AU - Spector, Sacha H.
PY - 2013/1
Y1 - 2013/1
N2 - Comparative analyses that link information on species' traits, environmental change, and organism response have rarely identified unambiguous trait correlates of vulnerability. We tested if species' traits could predict local-scale changes in dung beetle population response to three levels of forest conversion intensity within and across two biogeographic regions (the Neotropics and Afro-Eurasian tropics). We combined biodiversity surveys, a global molecular phylogeny, and information on three species' traits hypothesized to influence vulnerability to forest conversion to examine (1) the consistency of beetle population response across regions, (2) if species' traits could predict this response, and (3) the cross-regional consistency of trait–response relationships. Most beetle populations declined following any degree of forest conversion; these declines were strongest for Neotropical species. The relationship between traits and population trend was greatly influenced by local and biogeographic context. We discuss the ability of species' traits to explain population trends and suggest several ways to strengthen trait–response models.
AB - Comparative analyses that link information on species' traits, environmental change, and organism response have rarely identified unambiguous trait correlates of vulnerability. We tested if species' traits could predict local-scale changes in dung beetle population response to three levels of forest conversion intensity within and across two biogeographic regions (the Neotropics and Afro-Eurasian tropics). We combined biodiversity surveys, a global molecular phylogeny, and information on three species' traits hypothesized to influence vulnerability to forest conversion to examine (1) the consistency of beetle population response across regions, (2) if species' traits could predict this response, and (3) the cross-regional consistency of trait–response relationships. Most beetle populations declined following any degree of forest conversion; these declines were strongest for Neotropical species. The relationship between traits and population trend was greatly influenced by local and biogeographic context. We discuss the ability of species' traits to explain population trends and suggest several ways to strengthen trait–response models.
KW - Bodily size
KW - context-dependency
KW - extinction risk
KW - extrinsic factors
KW - fitness
KW - functional traits
KW - land use change
KW - population response
KW - Scarabaeinae
KW - trait-based approaches
U2 - 10.1890/12-0251.1
DO - 10.1890/12-0251.1
M3 - Journal article
VL - 94
SP - 180
EP - 189
JO - Ecology
JF - Ecology
SN - 0012-9658
IS - 1
ER -