From wing to wing: the persistence of long ecological interaction chains in less-disturbed ecosystems.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: McCauley DJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3354671 | biostudies-literature | 2012
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
From wing to wing: the persistence of long ecological interaction chains in less-disturbed ecosystems.
McCauley Douglas J DJ Desalles Paul A PA Young Hillary S HS Dunbar Robert B RB Dirzo Rodolfo R Mills Matthew M MM Micheli Fiorenza F
Scientific reports 20120517
Human impact on biodiversity usually is measured by reduction in species abundance or richness. Just as important, but much more difficult to discern, is the anthropogenic elimination of ecological interactions. Here we report on the persistence of a long ecological interaction chain linking diverse food webs and habitats in the near-pristine portions of a remote Pacific atoll. Using biogeochemical assays, animal tracking, and field surveys we show that seabirds roosting on native trees fertiliz ...[more]
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