Trait-dependent response of dung beetle populations to tropical forest conversion at local and regional scales

Elizabeth Nichols; Maria Uriarte; Daniel E. Bunker; Mario E. Favila; Eleanor M. Slade; Kevina Vulinec; Trond Larsen; Fernando Z. Vaz-De-Mello; Julio Louzada; Shahid Naeem; Sacha H. Spector

doi:10.1890/12-0251.1

Trait-dependent response of dung beetle populations to tropical forest conversion at local and regional scales

Elizabeth Nichols, Maria Uriarte, Daniel E. Bunker, Mario E. Favila, Eleanor M. Slade, Kevina Vulinec, Trond Larsen, Fernando Z. Vaz-De-Mello, Julio Louzada, Shahid Naeem, Sacha H. Spector

Biological Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

108 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	180-189
Number of pages	10
Journal	Ecology
Volume	94
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1890/12-0251.1
State	Published - Jan 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Keywords

Body size
Context-dependency
Extinction risk
Extrinsic factors
Fitness
Functional traits
Land use change
Population response
Scarabaeinae
Trait-based approaches

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10.1890/12-0251.1

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abstract = "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.",

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author = "Elizabeth Nichols and Maria Uriarte and Bunker, {Daniel E.} and Favila, {Mario E.} and Slade, {Eleanor M.} and Kevina Vulinec and Trond Larsen and Vaz-De-Mello, {Fernando Z.} and Julio Louzada and Shahid Naeem and Spector, {Sacha H.}",

year = "2013",

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doi = "10.1890/12-0251.1",

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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.

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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.

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KW - Trait-based approaches

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Trait-dependent response of dung beetle populations to tropical forest conversion at local and regional scales

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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