Data from: Hot spots or hot moments? Contextualizing the spatio-temporal scale of research on animal inputs

Mammals play important roles in redistributing elements across ecosystems,
concentrating biogeochemical inputs across both space and time. However,
research on zoogeochemical inputs is often constrained by logistical
considerations, potentially limiting our knowledge of mammals’ impacts on
biogeochemical patterns and processes. Here, we present a bibliometric
analysis that synthesizes both the spatiotemporal scope of research and
the range of methodological approaches used to study zoogeochemical inputs
from mammals. Our assessment focuses on the major material pathways—fecal
matter, urine, carcasses, and other body wastes—that are directly
deposited by mammals. Our goal was to identify the ecological variables,
ecosystem processes, and the spatial and temporal scales investigated by
these studies, characterize geographic and taxonomic biases, and draw
attention to opportunities for improved conceptual continuity. We found
that while many studies effectively characterized the biogeochemical
composition of mammalian inputs themselves, there is little methodological
standardization across measurements that characterize the fates and
functional impacts of these inputs within ecosystems. The diversity of
approaches reflects the wide range of research questions in the field;
however, paired with a lack of standardized measurement protocols and
limited data sharing, this diversity prevents cross-study empirical and
conceptual synthesis. Notably, almost all studies were limited in duration
(< 3 years) and did not follow ecosystem processes long enough to
detect when (or if) the input’s effects tapered off —highlighting a key
opportunity for future research. Geographically, North American and
European sites were relatively well represented, while deserts, boreal and
tropical forests, and tropical systems were underrepresented relative to
their global area. Addressing geographic biases, standardizing measurement
protocols, and extending the duration of field studies to capture the full
impacts of zoogeochemical inputs will enhance the ability to reconcile
empirical and theoretical approaches and develop a more robust
understanding of the spatiotemporal scale of mammalian control over
ecosystem processes.

哺乳动物在生态系统的元素再分配过程中发挥着关键作用，可将生物地球化学（biogeochemical）输入物在空间与时间维度上进行汇聚富集。然而，针对动物生物地球化学输入物（zoogeochemical inputs）的研究常受限于后勤保障难题，这可能制约我们对哺乳动物如何影响生物地球化学格局与过程的认知。本研究通过文献计量分析（bibliometric analysis），整合了现有关于哺乳动物源动物生物地球化学输入物的研究的时空范围与所采用的各类研究方法。本次研究聚焦于哺乳动物直接排放的主要物质路径：粪便、尿液、动物尸体及其他躯体排泄物。本研究的目标在于：明确现有相关研究所涉及的生态变量、生态系统过程以及时空尺度，刻画研究中的地理与分类学偏差，并呼吁学界重视提升研究概念连贯性的可行路径。研究结果显示，尽管多数研究已有效刻画了哺乳动物输入物本身的生物地球化学组成，但针对这些输入物在生态系统中的归宿与功能影响的测量方法，却几乎未形成统一标准。研究方法的多样性固然反映了该领域研究问题的广泛性，但结合缺乏标准化测量方案与数据共享受限的现状，这种多样性反而阻碍了不同研究间的实证与概念综合。值得注意的是，几乎所有研究的持续时长均不足3年，且未对生态系统过程进行足够长期的跟踪以观测输入物的效应何时（或是否）逐渐消退——这凸显了未来研究的重要方向。从地理分布来看，北美与欧洲的研究站点占比相对较高，而荒漠、寒温带针叶林、热带雨林及热带生态系统的研究站点占比，相较于其全球覆盖面积而言严重不足。通过解决地理偏差问题、统一测量方案、延长野外研究时长以完整捕捉动物生物地球化学输入物的生态效应，将有助于协调实证与理论研究路径，并推动学界更全面地理解哺乳动物对生态系统过程的调控时空尺度。