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The megabiota are disproportionately important for biosphere functioning

Author

Listed:
  • Brian J. Enquist

    (University of Arizona
    The Santa Fe Institute)

  • Andrew J. Abraham

    (Northern Arizona University)

  • Michael B. J. Harfoot

    (UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre)

  • Yadvinder Malhi

    (University of Oxford)

  • Christopher E. Doughty

    (Northern Arizona University)

Abstract

A prominent signal of the Anthropocene is the extinction and population reduction of the megabiota—the largest animals and plants on the planet. However, we lack a predictive framework for the sensitivity of megabiota during times of rapid global change and how they impact the functioning of ecosystems and the biosphere. Here, we extend metabolic scaling theory and use global simulation models to demonstrate that (i) megabiota are more prone to extinction due to human land use, hunting, and climate change; (ii) loss of megabiota has a negative impact on ecosystem metabolism and functioning; and (iii) their reduction has and will continue to significantly decrease biosphere functioning. Global simulations show that continued loss of large animals alone could lead to a 44%, 18% and 92% reduction in terrestrial heterotrophic biomass, metabolism, and fertility respectively. Our findings suggest that policies that emphasize the promotion of large trees and animals will have disproportionate impact on biodiversity, ecosystem processes, and climate mitigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian J. Enquist & Andrew J. Abraham & Michael B. J. Harfoot & Yadvinder Malhi & Christopher E. Doughty, 2020. "The megabiota are disproportionately important for biosphere functioning," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-14369-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14369-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Wen-Yong Guo & Josep M. Serra-Diaz & Wolf L. Eiserhardt & Brian S. Maitner & Cory Merow & Cyrille Violle & Matthew J. Pound & Miao Sun & Ferry Slik & Anne Blach-Overgaard & Brian J. Enquist & Jens-Chr, 2023. "Climate change and land use threaten global hotspots of phylogenetic endemism for trees," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Krause, Jens & Harfoot, Mike & Hoeks, Selwyn & Anthoni, Peter & Brown, Calum & Rounsevell, Mark & Arneth, Almut, 2022. "How more sophisticated leaf biomass simulations can increase the realism of modelled animal populations," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 471(C).
    3. Lola Gilbert & Tiphaine Jeanniard-du-Dot & Matthieu Authier & Tiphaine Chouvelon & Jérôme Spitz, 2023. "Composition of cetacean communities worldwide shapes their contribution to ocean nutrient cycling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.

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