Long-term concentration of tropical forest nutrient hotspots is generated by a central-place apex predator.

ABSTRACT: Apex predators typically affect the distribution of key soil and vegetation nutrients through the heterogeneous deposition of prey carcasses and excreta, leading to a nutrient concentration in a hotspot. The exact role of central-place foragers, such as tropical raptors, in nutrient deposition and cycling, is not yet known. We investigated whether harpy eagles (Harpia harpyja) in Amazonian Forests-a typically low soil fertility ecosystem-affect soil nutrient profiles and the phytochemistry around their nest-trees through cumulative deposition of prey carcasses and excreta. Nest-trees occurred at densities of 1.5-5.0/100 km², and each nest received ~ 102.3 kg of undressed carcasses each year. Effects of nests were surprisingly negative over local soil nutrient profiles, with soil

SUBMITTER: de Miranda EBP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10023775 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature