Vulnerability of terrestrial vertebrate food webs to anthropogenic threats in Europe

• Published in: Global change biology 2024-03, Vol.30 (3), p.e17253-n/a
• Main Authors: O'Connor, Louise M. J., Cosentino, Francesca, Harfoot, Michael B. J., Maiorano, Luigi, Mancino, Chiara, Pollock, Laura J., Thuiller, Wilfried
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: agricultural intensification; anthropogenic threats; climate change; direct exploitation; Environmental Sciences; European vertebrates; pollution; trophic interactions
• ISSN: 1354-1013; 1365-2486
• DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17253

Vertebrate species worldwide are currently facing significant declines in many populations. Although we have gained substantial knowledge about the direct threats that affect individual species, these threats only represent a fraction of the broader vertebrate threat profile, which is also shaped by species interactions. For example, threats faced by prey species can jeopardize the survival of their predators due to food resource scarcity. Yet, indirect threats arising from species interactions have received limited investigation thus far. In this study, we investigate the indirect consequences of anthropogenic threats on biodiversity in the context of European vertebrate food webs. We integrated data on trophic interactions among over 800 terrestrial vertebrates, along with their associated human‐induced threats. We quantified and mapped the vulnerability of various components of the food web, including species, interactions, and trophic groups to six major threats: pollution, agricultural intensification, climate change, direct exploitation, urbanization, and invasive alien species and diseases. Direct exploitation and agricultural intensification were two major threats for terrestrial vertebrate food webs: affecting 34% and 31% of species, respectively, they threaten 85% and 69% of interactions in Europe. By integrating network ecology with threat impact assessments, our study contributes to a better understanding of the magnitude of anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity. While direct threats to species are well studied, indirect threats arising from species interactions are less documented, especially on a macroecological scale. In this study, we show the importance of considering interactions to understand threats to biodiversity. By analyzing the vulnerability of European vertebrate food webs to six major anthropogenic threats, we highlight the far‐reaching impact of pressures such as direct exploitation and agricultural intensification, shedding light on the broader consequences of human activities on biodiversity.