Agricultural input modifies trophic niche and basal energy source of a top predator across human-modified landscapes.

ABSTRACT: Land-use conversion and resulting habitat fragmentation can affect the source(s) of primary productivity that fuels food webs and alter their structure in ways that leads to biodiversity loss. We investigated the effects of landscape modification on food webs in the Araguaia River floodplain in central Brazil using the top predator, and indicator species Caiman crocodilus (Crocodilia, Alligatoridae). We measured carbon ( δ13C ) and nitrogen ( δ15N ) isotope values of three tissues with different isotopic incorporation rates to evaluate spatial and temporal changes in caiman isotopic niche width with hierarchical Bayesian models that accounted for habitat use, intraspecific trait variation (sex and body size), and landscape attributes (composition and configuration). We also measured

SUBMITTER: Pereira AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12327407 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature