Roslin, Tomas
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- University of Helsinki
Research article2017Peer reviewedOpen access
Higher Predation Risk for Insect Prey at Low Latitudes and Elevations
Roslin, Tomas; Hardwick, Bess; Novotny, Vojtech; Petry, William K.; Andrew, Nigel R.; Asmus, Ashley; Barrio, Isabel C.; Basset, Yves; Boesing, Andrea Larissa; Bonebrake, Timothy C.; Cameron, Erin K.; Dattilo, Wesley; Donoso, David A.; Drozd, Pavel; Gray, Claudia L.; Hik, David S.; Hill, Sarah J.; Hopkins, Tapani; Huang, Shuyin; Koane, Bonny;
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Abstract
Biotic interactions underlie ecosystem structure and function, but predicting interaction outcomes is difficult. We tested the hypothesis that biotic interaction strength increases toward the equator, using a global experiment with model caterpillars to measure predation risk. Across an 11,660-kilometer latitudinal gradient spanning six continents, we found increasing predation toward the equator, with a parallel pattern of increasing predation toward lower elevations. Patterns across both latitude and elevation were driven by arthropod predators, with no systematic trend in attack rates by birds or mammals. These matching gradients at global and regional scales suggest consistent drivers of biotic interaction strength, a finding that needs to be integrated into general theories of herbivory, community organization, and life-history evolution.
Published in
Science
2017, Volume: 356, number: 6339, pages: 742-744
Publisher: AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Evolutionary Biology
Ecology
Publication identifier
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaj1631
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/82923