Articles tagged with Terrestrial Food Webs
An interdisciplinary team created Who Eats Whom, a website drawing on iNaturalist data to explore trophic interactions globally. The platform has logged 17,000 observations of 5,700 species, showcasing the public's interest in smaller trophic relationships.
A new study reveals that the disappearance of large mammals led to significant changes in food webs across different continents. The researchers found that regions with more severe past extinctions had distinct differences in their current mammal populations, indicating a lasting impact on food webs.
A study by Politecnico di Milano reveals China's increasing demand for animal proteins sustains the consumption of natural resources in Brazil. The research shows that soybean imports to China have a significant impact on Brazilian land use, water resources, and deforestation.
A new study reveals a region in China's Turpan-Hami Basin served as a refugium for terrestrial plants during the end-Permian mass extinction. The discovery suggests that some land areas were shielded from the worst effects of the extinction, allowing for continuous evolution and rapid ecological recovery afterward. The region's stable,...
Researchers found that terrestrial snakes on Sado Island coexist by differentiating their activity time, habitat, and diet. Niche complementarity among species with overlapping food resources reduces overlap in other dimensions.
The study found that a decrease in insect and spider biodiversity is accompanied by a decline in biomass and key fatty acid content. Aquatic ecosystems show less pronounced land use effects, whereas terrestrial ecosystems exhibit significant differences depending on land use.
Researchers found high concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in peregrine falcon eggs across North America, indicating long-term exposure to phased-out flame retardants. The study highlights the persistence of flame retardant pollution in wildlife and potential health risks for humans.
A recent study found that climate warming is altering carbon flow and food web dynamics in Arctic tundra and boreal forest ecosystems, with fungi replacing plants as the main energy source for animals. This shift has significant implications for ecosystem function and animal responses to climate change.
A new study reveals that mountain lion predation on wild donkeys is widespread and leads to changes in their behavior and ecological effects on desert wetlands. This interaction between predator and prey suggests a more dynamic ecosystem than previously thought.
A study has discovered that humans are disrupting a fundamental pattern in ecosystems, which dates back at least 66 million years. The U-shaped relationship between diet and size in modern land mammals has been found to span across multiple vertebrate groups, including birds, reptiles, and fish.
A Dartmouth-led study found that stream insects consumed by spiders transfer methylmercury to terrestrial predators, highlighting the importance of dissolved organic carbon in mediating mercury bioavailability. The research reveals a broader reach of mercury contamination than previously recognized.
A study published in Ecology Letters reveals that aquatic ecosystems process carbon through the basal levels of their food chain significantly faster than terrestrial ecosystems. This means aquatic ecosystems are less capable of retaining carbon, especially under high CO2 conditions.