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Impacts of detritivore diversity loss on instream decomposition are greatest in the tropics

Author

Listed:
  • Luz Boyero

    (University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)
    IKERBASQUE)

  • Naiara López-Rojo

    (University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU))

  • Alan M. Tonin

    (University of Brasília (UnB))

  • Javier Pérez

    (University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU))

  • Francisco Correa-Araneda

    (Universidad Autonoma de Chile)

  • Richard G. Pearson

    (James Cook University
    James Cook University)

  • Jaime Bosch

    (Oviedo University
    Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC)

  • Ricardo J. Albariño

    (INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue - CONICET))

  • Sankarappan Anbalagan

    (Melur)

  • Leon A. Barmuta

    (University of Tasmania)

  • Ana Basaguren

    (University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU))

  • Francis J. Burdon

    (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Adriano Caliman

    (Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN))

  • Marcos Callisto

    (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais)

  • Adolfo R. Calor

    (Universidade Federal da Bahia)

  • Ian C. Campbell

    (Rhithroecology Pty Ltd.)

  • Bradley J. Cardinale

    (Penn State University)

  • J. Jesús Casas

    (University of Almería)

  • Ana M. Chará-Serna

    (Centro para la Investigación en Sistemas Sostenibles de Producción Agropecuaria (CIPAV)
    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

  • Eric Chauvet

    (CNRS)

  • Szymon Ciapała

    (University of Physical Education)

  • Checo Colón-Gaud

    (Georgia Southern University)

  • Aydeé Cornejo

    (Freshwater Macroinvertebrate Laboratory Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies (COZEM-ICGES))

  • Aaron M. Davis

    (James Cook University)

  • Monika Degebrodt

    (Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB))

  • Emerson S. Dias

    (Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN))

  • María E. Díaz

    (Universidad Católica de Temuco
    Universidad de Concepción)

  • Michael M. Douglas

    (The University of Western Australia)

  • Andrea C. Encalada

    (Universidad San Francisco de Quito
    University of Coimbra)

  • Ricardo Figueroa

    (Universidad de Concepción)

  • Alexander S. Flecker

    (Cornell University)

  • Tadeusz Fleituch

    (Polish Academy of Sciences)

  • Erica A. García

    (Charles Darwin University)

  • Gabriela García

    (Autonomous University of Chiriqui)

  • Pavel E. García

    (Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
    University of Montana)

  • Mark O. Gessner

    (Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB)
    Berlin Institute of Technology (TU Berlin))

  • Jesús E. Gómez

    (Universidad de Puerto Rico)

  • Sergio Gómez

    (Cornell University)

  • Jose F. Gonçalves

    (University of Brasília (UnB))

  • Manuel A. S. Graça

    (University of Coimbra)

  • Daniel C. Gwinn

    (Biometric Research)

  • Robert O. Hall

    (University of Montana)

  • Neusa Hamada

    (Coordenação de Biodiversidade–COBIO)

  • Cang Hui

    (Stellenbosch University
    African Institute for Mathematical Sciences)

  • Daichi Imazawa

    (University of Yamanashi)

  • Tomoya Iwata

    (University of Yamanashi)

  • Samuel K. Kariuki

    (Egerton University)

  • Andrea Landeira-Dabarca

    (Universidad San Francisco de Quito
    Biometric Research)

  • Kelsey Laymon

    (Georgia Southern University)

  • María Leal

    (Universidad del Zulia)

  • Richard Marchant

    (Museums Victoria)

  • Renato T. Martins

    (Coordenação de Biodiversidade–COBIO)

  • Frank O. Masese

    (University of Eldoret)

  • Megan Maul

    (Oakland University)

  • Brendan G. McKie

    (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Adriana O. Medeiros

    (Universidade Federal da Bahia)

  • Charles M. M’ Erimba

    (Egerton University)

  • Jen A. Middleton

    (The University of Western Australia)

  • Silvia Monroy

    (University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU))

  • Timo Muotka

    (Centre de Lyon‐Villeurbanne)

  • Junjiro N. Negishi

    (Hokkaido University)

  • Alonso Ramírez

    (North Carolina State University)

  • John S. Richardson

    (University of British Columbia)

  • José Rincón

    (Universidad del Zulia)

  • Juan Rubio-Ríos

    (University of Almería)

  • Gisele M. Santos

    (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
    Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG))

  • Romain Sarremejane

    (Centre de Lyon‐Villeurbanne)

  • Fran Sheldon

    (Griffith University)

  • Augustine Sitati

    (University of Eldoret)

  • Nathalie S. D. Tenkiano

    (Université Julius N’Yerere de Kankan)

  • Scott D. Tiegs

    (Oakland University)

  • Janine R. Tolod

    (Hokkaido University)

  • Michael Venarsky

    (Griffith University)

  • Anne Watson

    (University of Tasmania)

  • Catherine M. Yule

    (University of the Sunshine Coast)

Abstract

The relationship between detritivore diversity and decomposition can provide information on how biogeochemical cycles are affected by ongoing rates of extinction, but such evidence has come mostly from local studies and microcosm experiments. We conducted a globally distributed experiment (38 streams across 23 countries in 6 continents) using standardised methods to test the hypothesis that detritivore diversity enhances litter decomposition in streams, to establish the role of other characteristics of detritivore assemblages (abundance, biomass and body size), and to determine how patterns vary across realms, biomes and climates. We observed a positive relationship between diversity and decomposition, strongest in tropical areas, and a key role of abundance and biomass at higher latitudes. Our results suggest that litter decomposition might be altered by detritivore extinctions, particularly in tropical areas, where detritivore diversity is already relatively low and some environmental stressors particularly prevalent.

Suggested Citation

  • Luz Boyero & Naiara López-Rojo & Alan M. Tonin & Javier Pérez & Francisco Correa-Araneda & Richard G. Pearson & Jaime Bosch & Ricardo J. Albariño & Sankarappan Anbalagan & Leon A. Barmuta & Ana Basagu, 2021. "Impacts of detritivore diversity loss on instream decomposition are greatest in the tropics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23930-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23930-2
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