
Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 13(8)
Опубликована: Авг. 1, 2023
Abstract Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation usually occur together, at the same time place. However, while there is a consensus that preeminent threat to biodiversity, effects of are contentious. Some argue not bad for even it good. Generally, studies find no harm or positive outcomes invariably assume independent loss. dissociating from questionable because two essentially coupled. Accordingly, we evaluated how forest area (via edge effects) influenced dung beetles per se, through their on abundance mammals, using structural equation modeling (SEM). Dung very sensitive changes in mammals which they depend dung. Our study was Tana River, Kenya, where fragments depauperated except endemic species monkeys. We mapped 12 forests, counted resident monkeys, sampled 113,955 288 plots. Most 87 found were small tunnellers. After implementing fully latent Structural Regression SEM, optimal model explained significant 26% variance abundance, 89% diversity. The main drivers beetle positive, direct, number negative effects. diversity direct indirect Thus, area, effects), monkeys jointly directly indirectly.
Язык: Английский