Data from: Changes in desert avifauna associated with the functional extinction of a terrestrial top predator

We investigated how long-term suppression of populations of a top predator, the dingo Canis dingo, affected composition of sympatric avifauna in Australian deserts, by surveying bird assemblages across ~80 000 km2 of arid dunefields on either side of the Dingo Barrier Fence (DBF; a 5,614 km-long fence separating ecosystems in which dingoes are abundant from ecosystems in which dingoes are functionally extinct). Using fourth-corner modelling, incorporating species’ traits, we identified apparent declines of sedentary birds that nest in low vegetation and small birds that feed primarily on grass seed, and increases in scavenging birds associated with the functional extinction of dingoes. Occupancy differed between sites inside and outside the DBF in 13 bird species. We hypothesise that these differences in bird assemblages across the DBF result, in part, from increases in kangaroos (Macropus spp.) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in arid landscapes where dingoes have been removed. Our study provides evidence that the functional extinction of a large terrestrial predator has had pervasive ecosystem effects, including shifts in composition of avian assemblages.

本研究围绕澳洲沙漠中的顶级捕食者澳洲野犬（Canis dingo）展开，探究其种群长期受抑制对同域鸟类群落组成的影响。研究通过在野犬屏障围栏（Dingo Barrier Fence，DBF）两侧约8万平方千米的干旱沙丘地带开展鸟类群落调查完成分析——该围栏全长5614千米，将澳洲野犬种群繁盛的生态系统与澳洲野犬功能性灭绝的生态系统相分隔。本研究结合物种性状，采用四角落模型（fourth-corner modelling）开展分析，结果显示：伴随澳洲野犬的功能性灭绝，在低矮植被中筑巢的留鸟以及主要取食草籽的小型鸟类种群出现显著下降，而食腐鸟类的种群数量则有所上升；13种鸟类的栖息占有率在DBF围栏内外的样地间存在显著差异。我们推测，DBF两侧鸟类群落的上述差异，部分源于澳洲野犬被清除的干旱景观中，袋鼠属（Macropus spp.）动物与赤狐（Vulpes vulpes）的种群规模有所扩张。本研究证实，大型陆生捕食者的功能性灭绝会对生态系统产生广泛深远的影响，其中包括鸟类群落组成的转变。