Lower density of arthropod biomass in small high‐Andes Polylepis fragments affects habitat use in insectivorous birds

• Main Authors: Jennifer R. A. Cahill, Thomas Merckx, Hans Van Dyck, Milton Fernández, Erik Matthysen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2021-03-01
• Series: Ecosphere
• Subjects: bark‐dwelling arthropods; biodiversity hotspot; Conirostrum binghami; edge effects; habitat fragmentation; Polylepis besseri
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3401

Abstract Polylepis forests are endemic to the high‐Andes, with trees characterized by multi‐layered, exfoliating bark‐providing protection against harsh, high‐elevation conditions, both for individual trees and the wide array of organisms dependent on them. However, Polylepis habitat has suffered severe human‐induced land conversion and currently mainly occurs as fragmented remnants only. Here, we studied the effects of fragment size on local ambient temperature and on biomass of bark and its bark‐dwelling arthropods. We did so by comparing multiple samples at the edge and interior of both large and small fragments, while also accounting for branch size, tree width, and tree structure. Because arthropod biomass is likely to impact higher trophic levels, we also studied abundance and foraging behavior of two bird species specialized on Polylepis forest. We show that arthropod biomass was relatively higher in wider, larger trees, which were preferred for foraging by both bird species. Moreover, we show that small forest fragments are not only environmentally less buffered but are also characterized by lower amounts of bark and lower densities of bark‐dwelling arthropods than larger fragments. Our study highlights the conservation value of large trees. Also, we advise it is now timely to test to what degree restoration efforts to increase fragment size could mitigate the negative effects of reduced arthropod biomass for higher trophic levels of endemic specialist insectivores.