A novel approach to determining umbrella species using quantitative food web: A case study from fresh-water lake

Abstract

To formulate practical strategies that maximise conservation benefits, it's essential to identify the most critical players in conservation efforts. As the conservation of umbrella species can benefit other co-occurring species, it has emerged as a pivotal tool for improving the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation. In this study, from the perspective of the food web, we carried out a case study in Xingkai Lake region by regarding species with predator-prey relationships as co-occurring, and proposed a novel concept of “umbrella species strength” for the first time after quantifying the concept of “top vertebrate predators” as umbrella species. On the one hand, we assessed whether the oriental white stork (Ciconia boyciana), a candidate umbrella species, could be an effective umbrella species in Xingkai Lake region; on the other hand, we further studied which ecosystem was more suitable for managing by using umbrella species. It is found that the oriental white stork enjoyed the highest umbrella species strength (1.00) and degree centrality (1.00), indicating that the oriental white stork was the most suitable umbrella species in Xingkai Lake region. Moreover, the feeding rate of the oriental white stork was significantly higher in the marsh ecosystem (82.10 %) than in the lake ecosystem (18.00 %); the mean clustering coefficient of the marsh food web (0.65) was also higher than lake (0.57), indicating that marsh ecosystem was more suitable for managing by using umbrella species. This research aims to provide a novel method for biodiversity conservation based on selecting umbrella species from the perspective of food web.