Scavenger community and carrion decomposition in a Tibetan alpine meadow
Data files
Nov 27, 2024 version files 32.69 KB
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Data_for_24-0206-EEN.xlsx
30.86 KB
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README.md
1.83 KB
Abstract
Animal carrion, an ephemeral but nutritional resource, supports diverse invertebrate species involved in the decomposition process. Necrophagous flies, as primary colonizers, can largely affect the invertebrate community and associated carrion removal; however, the effect of fly exclusion on invertebrate decomposers and associated carrion decomposition has been poorly understood.
To address this gap, we conducted a field experiment to investigate the response of arthropod scavengers and carrion removal to fly exclusion using yak carrion and chicken carrion in a Tibetan alpine meadow.
Results show that flies (maggots) and necrophagous beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) were the predominant scavengers on both yak carrion and chicken carrion in the Tibetan alpine meadow. Maggots, necrophagous beetles, and predatory beetles responded differently to carrion types. Specifically, during the early stages of decomposition, maggots were more abundant on chicken carrion compared to yak carrion, while necrophagous beetles and predatory beetles dominated yak carrion during the late stages. The exclusion of flies significantly decreased both the richness and abundance of arthropods, as well as the decomposition rate of chicken carrion but not yak carrion.
Our findings clearly demonstrate that excluding flies can modify temporal successional traits and structure of scavenger community, as well as decomposition rates of both chicken carrion and yak carrion, albeit with varying effect degrees. This study represents a comprehensive investigation into the influences of necrophagous flies and carrion type on carrion decomposition on the Tibetan Plateau, which holds important implications for understanding necrophilous assemblages.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.ksn02v7f7
Description of the data and file structure
Data File Description
File Name: Data for 24-0206-EEN
This Excel file contains two sheets that record different aspects of the experiment involving the decomposition of carrion and the diversity of arthropods.
Sheet1: diversity of arthropods
This sheet contains data on the diversity and abundance of arthropods observed during the experiment under different treatments.
- Carrion type: The type of carrion used in the experiment.
- Sampling day: The day on which sampling occurred, measured as the number of days since the start of the experiment.
- Repetition: The experimental repetition number to identify replicates.
- Treatment: The treatment applied during the experiment, either excluding or including flies.
- Species columns: Each remaining column corresponds to a specific species, and the values represent the abundance of that species on each sampling day.
Sheet2: decomposition of carrion
This sheet contains data on the weight loss of carrion over time under different treatments.
This sheet contains data on the initial and final weight of carrion in different treatments.
- Carrion type: The type of carrion used in the experiment.
- Repetition: The experimental repetition number to identify replicates.
- Treatment: The treatment applied during the experiment, either excluding or including flies.
- Sampling day: The day on which sampling occurred, measured as the number of days since the start of the experiment.
- Initial weight: The initial weight of the carrion at the start of the experiment (in grams).
- Final weight: The weight of the carrion at the time of sampling (in grams).