Journal
SCIENCE
Volume 356, Issue 6339, Pages 742-744Publisher
AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1126/science.aaj1631
Keywords
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Categories
Funding
- Academy of Finland [138346, 276909, 285803]
- European Science Foundation [669609]
- National Science Foundation [OPP 0908502, DGE-1321846, 1158817]
- Instituto de Ecologia, A.C.
- Finnish Cultural Foundation
- Oskar Oflunds Stiftelse
- Societas Entomologica Helsingforsiensis
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) [NE/J011169/1]
- Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [14/11676-8, 13/23457-6]
- Grant Agency of Czech Republic [14-32024P, 14-04258S]
- National Feasibility Program [LO1208]
- Estonian Ministry of Education and Research [IUT20-33]
- Norwegian Research Council's Climate Change and Impacts in Norway (NORKLIMA) program [230607/E10]
- Academy of Finland (AKA) [285803] Funding Source: Academy of Finland (AKA)
- Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) [14/11676-8, 13/23457-6] Funding Source: FAPESP
- Office Of The Director
- Office Of Internatl Science &Engineering [1158817] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
- Natural Environment Research Council [NE/J011169/1] Funding Source: researchfish
- NERC [NE/J011169/1] Funding Source: UKRI
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Biotic interactions underlie ecosystem structure and function, but predicting interaction outcomes is difficult. We tested the hypothesis that biotic interaction strength increases toward the equator, using a global experiment with model caterpillars to measure predation risk. Across an 11,660-kilometer latitudinal gradient spanning six continents, we found increasing predation toward the equator, with a parallel pattern of increasing predation toward lower elevations. Patterns across both latitude and elevation were driven by arthropod predators, with no systematic trend in attack rates by birds or mammals. These matching gradients at global and regional scales suggest consistent drivers of biotic interaction strength, a finding that needs to be integrated into general theories of herbivory, community organization, and life-history evolution.
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