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.

本研究聚焦澳大利亚沙漠生态系统，通过对野犬屏障围栏（Dingo Barrier Fence，DBF）两侧约80000平方公里干旱沙丘地带的鸟类群落开展调查，探究了顶级捕食者澳洲野犬（Canis dingo）种群的长期抑制作用对同域鸟类群落组成的影响。该围栏全长5614公里，可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互分隔。本研究结合物种性状，采用四角落模型（fourth-corner modelling）开展分析，结果表明：在低矮植被中筑巢的居留型鸟类，以及主要以草籽为食的小型鸟类种群数量出现显著下降；而与澳洲野犬功能性灭绝相关的食腐鸟类种群数量则有所上升。共有13种鸟类的位点占用率在DBF内外存在显著差异。我们推测，DBF两侧鸟类群落的这类差异，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）的种群数量上升。本研究提供了实证证据，证明大型陆生捕食者的功能性灭绝会产生广泛的生态系统效应，其中包括鸟类群落组成的转变。