Nutrient dilution and the future of herbivore populations.

Autor: Kaspari M; School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA; Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA. Electronic address: mkaspari@ou.edu., Welti EAR; Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Trends in ecology & evolution [Trends Ecol Evol] 2024 May 23. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 May 23.
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2024.05.001
Abstrakt: Nutrient dilution (ND) - the decrease in the concentration of nutritional elements in plant tissue - arises from an increase in the mass of carbohydrates and/or a decrease in the 20+ essential elements. Increasing CO 2 levels and its promotion of biomass are linked to nutrient dilution. We build a case for nutrient dilution as a key driver in global declines in herbivore abundance. Herbivores must build element-rich animal tissue from nutrient-poor plant tissue, and their abundance commonly increases with fertilization of both macro- and micronutrients. We predict the global impacts of nutrient dilution will be magnified in some of Earth's most biodiverse, highly productive, and/or nutrient-poor ecosystems and should favor specific traits of herbivores, including sap-feeding and ruminant microbiomes.
Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no conflict of interests.
(Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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