Fragment edge and isolation affect the food web: effects on the strength of interactions among trophic guilds

Abstract Habitat loss and fragmentation are processes that may affect communities by changing species interactions. These changes occur because the strength of linkages between species is not exclusively dependent on predator and prey traits. Species interaction changes also depend on the spatial context in which they take place. We used structural equation modelling to evaluate effects of these processes at patch-scale on top-down and bottom-up controls in food webs in Atlantic Forest. The model was composed of multiple species, and trophic guilds responded differently to fragment edge and isolation. Changes in bottom-up and top-down controls were mainly related to intermediate predator interactions. Efforts to restore connectivity among fragments should help recover the equilibrium of the trophic interactions by benefiting intermediate predators.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Melo,Michele Molina, Silva,Cristina Magalhães, Barbosa,Carina Santos, Morais,Maristela Calvente, D'Anunciação,Paula Eveline Ribeiro, Silva,Vinícius Xavier da, Hasui,Érica
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Instituto Virtual da Biodiversidade | BIOTA - FAPESP 2016
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1676-06032016000200209
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