Mammal predator and prey species richness are strongly linked at macroscales

• DOI: 10.1890/12-1342.1
• Publication Date: 2013-05-10T19:17:42Z
• Authors: Christopher Sandom; Lars Dalby; Camilla Fløjgaard; W. Daniel Kissling; Jonathan Lenoir; Brody Sandel; Kristian Trøjelsg...; Rasmus Ejrnæs; Jens-Christian Sv...
• Keywords: Mammals; 2. Zero hunger; 0106 biological sciences; carnivores; QH; Population; bottom-up effects; Biodiversity; 15. Life on land; productivity hypothesis; Models, Biological; 01 natural sciences; biotic interactions; structural equation models; QH301; 13. Climate action; Predatory Behavior; top-down control; Animals; 14. Life underwater; mammal species richness; trophic interactions

Predator–prey interactions play an important role for species composition and community dynamics at local scales, but their importance in shaping large‐scale gradients of richness remains unexplored. Here, we use global range maps, structural equation models (SEM), comprehensive databases dietary preferences body masses all terrestrial, non‐volant mammals worldwide, to test whether (1) prey bottom‐up or predator top‐down relationships are drivers broad‐scale once the environment human influence have been accounted for, (2) predator–prey associations vary among biogeographic regions, (3) size influences covariation between predators prey. SEMs including only productivity, climate, factors explained a high proportion variance ( R 2 = 0.56) considerably less 0.13). Adding predator‐to‐prey prey‐to‐predator paths strongly increased both cases (prey 0.79, 0.57), suggesting that driving diversity gradients. Prey effects prevailed over explain richness, whereas productivity climate were more than explaining although still significant. Global not reproduced indicating distinct paleoclimate evolutionary histories (Africa Australia) may alter across trophic levels. Stronger cross‐trophic‐level recorded within categories similar (e.g., large predators) them small predators), mass‐related energetic physiological constraints links, especially large‐bodied mammals. Overall, our results support idea can be combination with environmental effects.