Abstract
The importance of species richness in maintaining ecosystem function in the field remains unclear. Recent studies however have suggested that in some systems functionality is maintained by a few abundant species. Here we determine this relationship by quantifying the species responsible for a key ecosystem role, carcass removal by scavengers. We find that, unlike those within largely unaltered environments, the scavenger community within our highly altered system is dominated by a single species, the Carrion crow, despite the presence of a number of other scavenging species. Furthermore, we find no relationship between abundance of crows and carcass removal. However, the overall activity of crows predicts carcass biomass removal rate in an asymptotic manner, suggesting that a relatively low level of abundance and scavenging activity is required to maintain this component of ecosystem function.
Highlights
The importance of species richness in maintaining ecosystem function in the field remains unclear
The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function has been the subject of decades of intensive experimental research, and lies at the heart of key concepts in ecology and conservation biology
Whilst there is some emerging support for the importance of species richness in delivering real world ecosystem function[3,4] it has been believed for some time that the most common species are likely to be disproportionately responsible[5]
Summary
The importance of species richness in maintaining ecosystem function in the field remains unclear. Recent studies have suggested that in some systems functionality is maintained by a few abundant species We determine this relationship by quantifying the species responsible for a key ecosystem role, carcass removal by scavengers. Experimental results overwhelmingly suggest that reduction in species richness leads to loss of ecosystem function[1] These experiments tend to be highly simplified with very small plot sizes and controlled abundances for each species. Whilst there is some emerging support for the importance of species richness in delivering real world ecosystem function[3,4] it has been believed for some time that the most common species are likely to be disproportionately responsible[5] In this study we identify the species richness and proportional carcass removal activities of a scavenger community using camera traps on experimentally deployed and standardised carcasses
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