RT Journal Article
T1 The reorganization of predator–prey networks over 20 million years explains extinction patterns of mammalian carnivores
A1 Nascimento, João C. S.
A1 Blanco, Fernando
A1 Domingo Martínez, María Soledad
A1 Cantalapiedra, Juan L.
A1 Pires, Mathias M.
AB Linking the species interactions occurring at the scale of local communities to their potential impact at evolutionary timescales is challenging. Here, we used the high-resolution fossil record of mammals from the Iberian Peninsula to reconstruct a timeseries of trophic networks spanning more than 20 million years and asked whether predator–prey interactions affected regional extinction patterns. We found that, despite small changes in species richness, trophic networks showed long-term trends, gradually losing interactions and becoming sparser towards the present. This restructuring of the ecological networks was driven by the loss of medium-sized herbivores, which reduced prey availability for predators. The decrease in prey availability was associated with predator longevity, such that predators with less available prey had greater extinction risk. These results not only reveal long-term trends in network structure but suggest that prey species richness in ecological communities may shape large scale patterns of extinction and persistence among predators.
PB Wiley
SN 1461-023X
YR 2024
FD 2024-05-30
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/105245
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/105245
LA eng
NO Nascimento, João C. S., et al. «The Reorganization of Predator–Prey Networks over 20 Million Years Explains Extinction Patterns of Mammalian Carnivores». Ecology Letters, vol. 27, n.o 6, junio de 2024, e14448, https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.14448
NO Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)
NO São Paulo Research Foundation
NO Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
NO University of Gothenburg
NO Swedish Research Council
NO Universidad Complutense de Madrid
NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
NO Comunidad de Madrid
NO Universidad de Alcalá
DS Docta Complutense
RD 17 abr 2025