Ecosystem Functioning Influences Species Fitness at Upper Trophic Levels

• Published in: Ecosystems (New York) 2022-08, Vol.25 (5), p.1037-1051
• Main Authors: Regos, Adrián, Tapia, Luis, Arenas-Castro, Salvador, Gil-Carrera, Alberto, Domínguez, Jesús
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Albedo; Animal reproduction; Apexes; Aquila chrysaetos; Atmospheric models; Bioclimatology; Biodiversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Breeding success; Carbon cycle; Ecological effects; Ecological function; Ecology; Ecosystems; Energy budget; Environmental changes; Environmental Management; Fitness; Food chains; Food processing; Force and energy; Geoecology/Natural Processes; Hydrology/Water Resources; Land surface temperature; Life Sciences; Plant Sciences; Predators; Remote sensing; Reproduction; Reproductive fitness; Species; Surface energy; Surface properties; Survival; Trophic levels; Zoology
• ISSN: 1432-9840; 1435-0629
• DOI: 10.1007/s10021-021-00699-5

Global change is severely affecting ecosystem functioning and biodiversity globally. Remotely sensed ecosystem functional attributes (EFAs) are integrative descriptors of the environmental change—being closely related to the processes directly affecting food chains via trophic cascades. Here we tested if EFAs can explain the species fitness at upper trophic levels. We took advantage of a long-term time series database of the reproductive success of the Golden Eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos )—an apex predator at the upper trophic level—over a 17-year period across a bioclimatic gradient (NW Spain; c. 29,575 km 2 ). We computed a comprehensive database of EFAs from three MODIS satellite-products related to the carbon cycle, heat dynamics and radiative balance. We also assessed possible time-lag in the response of the Golden Eagle to fire, a critical disruptor of the surface energy budget in our region. We explored the role of EFAs on the fitness of the Golden Eagle with logistic-exposure nest survival models. Our models showed that the reproductive performance of the Golden Eagle is influenced by spatiotemporal variations in land surface temperature, albedo and vegetation productivity (AUC values from 0.71 to 0.8; ΣWi EFAs from 0.66 to 1). Fire disturbance also affected ecological fitness of this apex predator—with a limited effect at 3 years after fire (a time-lagged response to surface energy budget disruptions; ΣWi Fire  = 0.62). Our study provides evidence for the influence of the matter and energy fluxes between land surface and atmosphere on the reproductive success of species at upper trophic levels.