Roslin, Tomas

Hardwick, Bess

Cameron, Erin K

Dattilo, Wesley

Donoso, David A

Drozd, Pavel

Gray, Claudia L

Hik, David S

Hill, Sarah J

Hopkins, Tapani

Huang, Shuyin

Koane, Bonny

Novotny, Vojtech

Laird-Hopkins, Benita

Laukkanen, Liisa

Lewis, Owen T

Milne, Sol

Mwesige, Isaiah

Nakamura, Akihiro

Nell, Colleen S

Nichols, Elizabeth

Prokurat, Alena

Sam, Katerina

Petry, William K

Schmidt, Niels M

Slade, Alison

Slade, Victor

Suchankova, Alzbeta

Teder, Tiit

van Nouhuys, Saskya

Vandvik, Vigdis

Weissflog, Anita

Zhukovich, Vital

Slade, Eleanor M

Andrew, Nigel R

Asmus, Ashley

Barrio, Isabel C

Basset, Yves

Boesing, Andrea Larissa

Bonebrake, Timothy C

2017

Biotic interactions underlie ecosystem structure and function, but predicting interaction outcomes is difficult. We tested the hypothesis that biotic interaction strength increases toward the equator, using a global experiment with model caterpillars to measure predation risk. Across an 11,660-kilometer latitudinal gradient spanning six continents, we found increasing predation toward the equator, with a parallel pattern of increasing predation toward lower elevations. Patterns across both latitude and elevation were driven by arthropod predators,with no systematic trend in attack rates by birds or mammals. These matching gradients at global and regional scales suggest consistent drivers of biotic interaction strength, a finding that needs to be integrated into general theories of herbivory, community organization, and life-history evolution.

Science, 356(6339), p. 742-744

1095-9203

0036-8075

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/21302

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Higher predation risk for insect prey at low latitudes and elevations

Journal Article

Publication