That is expected Biotic interactions influence species reactions and especially those of the brown bear when you are confronted with global changesBut these types of variations are rarely considered in broad spatial extensions.
It is believed that that Abiotic factors work on larger space scales, while biotic factors, such as species interactions, are considered more important for local scales within communitiesPartly because of the knowledge gap about the interactions of species on large space scales (that is, the shortage of Elton).
In this study, experts evaluated on a continental scale, (i) the importance of biotic interactions, via food networks, in species distributions and (ii) how biotic interactions in Climate change and ground use scenarios can influence the distribution of the brown bear (Ursus)).
The brown bear in Europe
The Distribution of the brown bear on the European continental scale is determined by the places where the species that are part of their diet are, According to an international study, in which researchers from the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC) participate in Spanish.
Research, Collection in the Global Change Biology magazineshows the importance of interactions between species in the preservation of ecosystems, whereby the distribution of extensively Pardo in Europe and Türkiye as a case study. The scientists have taken more than three million locations of around 3,000 as a reference bone, With data from the 14 European and Turkish sub -populations that live in very different environments.
Climate change has them directly influence them
Understand how worldwide changes influence, As a climate change or changes in soil use, species are crucial to maintain biodiversity and to maintain the benefits that nature offersSuch as clean water, soil fertility or pollination, the authors point out.
Because of climate change, The distribution of some species goes to higher places or to the poles, places where climatic conditions are maintained in the series of species tolerance. Most studies only focus on how direct changes (temperature changes, rain or land use) influence the distribution of species. Now this work has focused on the indirect effects of heating, so that the interactions between species are analyzed.
“Loose Bears showed a very varied diet: We detect 276 species in your diet. Those who live in warmer places, such as subpopulations of the Cantabrian mountain rangeGreece or Turkey, have a more vegetarian diet, while in the colder areas such as Scandinavia and Finland are more carnivorous, ”said one of the authors, the researcher at the University of Sevilla (South), Pablo M. Lucas
«We observe That the bear occupies those places where there are more species that are part of their diet. For example, in the Cantabrian mountains the presence of oak andwhich are the most important food source makes it more likely that terribly; In other subpopulations where the extensively It is more carnivorous, its presence is explained more by the distribution of wild non -guilders such as wild boar or deer, “said MNCN researcher Vincenzo Penteriani.
Foreplay the place where species will be located
This information is especially important «To predict where species will live in the future and what functions they will perform in ecosystems, in a context of climate change and soil use transformationJust as to show that we must protect the species to retain the ecosystems where they live, “the authors said.
“Loose Changes in the divisions of the species they feed can influence the position of the bear in the trophic chain All the viability of the species on a local scale, “said Lucas in a MNCN statement.
Other species that have different characteristics Brown bear (a more specialized diet, less capacity to move or that can only live in very specific environmental conditions) can respond differently than climate change and the transformation of land use, As well as the changes in the species with which it interacts. “Improving this knowledge is essential to design more effective strategies for the preservation of biodiversity and the services that nature gives us,” said the authors.
This work, Led from the University of Sevilla in Spain, the La Sapienza University of Rome and the Institute of Nature Conservation of Poland was developed by a team of 87 researchers from 75 institutions from 26 countriesIncluding the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN) or the Doñana Biological Station (EBD), both from the Spanish Scientific Research Council (CSIC). EFE / ECOTICIA.COM