Dynamic feedbacks among tree species traits, termites and an endangered
mammal via deadwood turnover
Abstract
Biodiversity losses may impact ecosystem processes via food-webs. We
hypothesized that time can modulate feedbacks among plant functional
diversity, resource quality, prey and predator populations and litter
turnover. Thereto we incubated coarse deadwood of 34 woody species, with
and without (wood-feeding) termite access, in Chinese subtropical
forests with and without (termite-feeding) pangolins. The results
supported our hypothesis: in the first 12 months, termites amplified the
positive linear relationship between % wood mass loss and initial wood
quality (along a wood economics spectrum, WES). In contrast, between 12
and 18 months, termite-mediated consumption, and associated wood mass
loss, showed a humpback relation with the initial WES. This shift in
termite preference of deadwood species along the WES indicated
complementary food availability to termites through time, thereby
promoting both termites and endangered pangolins. Thus, plant functional
diversity through time can help to sustain keystone consumers, predators
and their effects on carbon turnover.