Climate, food and humans predict communities of mammals in the United States
Authors: Kays Roland , Snider Matthew H. , Hess George , Cove Michael V. , Jensen Alex , Shamon Hila , McShea William J. , Rooney Brigit , Allen Maximilian L. , Pekins Charles E. , Wilmers Christopher C. , Pendergast Mary E. , Green Austin M. , Suraci Justin , Leslie Matthew S. , Nasrallah Sophie , Farkas Dan , Jordan Mark , Grigione Melissa , LaScaleia Michael C. , Davis Miranda L. , Hansen Chris , Millspaugh Josh , Lewis Jesse S. , Havrda Michael , Long Robert , Remine Kathryn R. , Jaspers Kodi J. , Lafferty Diana J. R. , Hubbard Tru , Studds Colin E. , Barthelmess Erika L. , Andy Katherine , Romero Andrea , O'Neill Brian J. , Hawkins Melissa T. R. , Lombardi Jason V. , Sergeyev Maksim , Fisher‐Reid M. Caitlin , Rentz Michael S. , Nagy Christopher , Davenport Jon M. , Rega‐Brodsky Christine C. , Appel Cara L. , Lesmeister Damon B. , Giery Sean T. , Whittier Christopher A. , Alston Jesse M. , Sutherland Chris , Rota Christopher , Murphy Thomas , Lee Thomas E. , Mortelliti Alessio , Bergman Dylan L. , Compton Justin A. , Gerber Brian D. , Burr Jess , Rezendes Kylie , DeGregorio Brett A. , Wehr Nathaniel H. , Benson John F. , O'Mara M. Teague , Jachowski David S. , Gray Morgan , Beyer Dean E. , Belant Jerrold L. , Horan Robert V. , Lonsinger Robert C. , Kuhn Kellie M. , Hasstedt Steven C. M. , Zimova Marketa , Moore Sophie M. , Herrera Daniel J. , Fritts Sarah , Edelman Andrew J. , Flaherty Elizabeth A. , Petroelje Tyler R. , Neiswenter Sean A. , Risch Derek R. , Iannarilli Fabiola , van der Merwe Marius , Maher Sean P. , Farris Zach J. , Webb Stephen L. , Mason David S. , Lashley Marcus A. , Wilson Andrew M. , Vanek John P. , Wehr Samuel R. , Conner L. Mike , Beasley James C. , Bontrager Helen L. , Baruzzi Carolina , Ellis‐Felege Susan N. , Proctor Mike D. , Schipper Jan , Weiss Katherine C. B. , Darracq Andrea K. , Barr Evan G. , Alexander Peter D. , Şekercioğlu Çağan H. , Bogan Daniel A. , Schalk Christopher M. , Fantle‐Lepczyk Jean E. , Lepczyk Christopher A. , LaPoint Scott , Whipple Laura S. , Rowe Helen Ivy , Mullen Kayleigh , Bird Tori , Zorn Adam , Brandt LaRoy , Lathrop Richard G. , McCain Craig , Crupi Anthony P. , Clark James , Parsons Arielle 
Published: June 2024

Aim

The assembly of species into communities and ecoregions is the result of interacting factors that affect plant and animal distribution and abundance at biogeographic scales. Here, we empirically derive ecoregions for mammals to test whether human disturbance has become more important than climate and habitat resources in structuring communities.

Location

Conterminous United States.

Time Period

2010–2021.

Major Taxa Studied

Twenty‐five species of mammals.

Methods

We analysed data from 25 mammal species recorded by camera traps at 6645 locations across the conterminous United States in a joint modelling framework to estimate relative abundance of each species. We then used a clustering analysis to describe 8 broad and 16 narrow mammal communities.

Results

Climate was the most important predictor of mammal abundance overall, while human population density and agriculture were less important, with mixed effects across species. Seed production by forests also predicted mammal abundance, especially hard‐mast tree species. The mammal community maps are similar to those of plants, with an east–west split driven by different dominant species of deer and squirrels. Communities vary along gradients of temperature in the east and precipitation in the west. Most fine‐scale mammal community boundaries aligned with established plant ecoregions and were distinguished by the presence of regional specialists or shifts in relative abundance of widespread species. Maps of potential ecosystem services provided by these communities suggest high herbivory in the Rocky Mountains and eastern forests, high invertebrate predation in the subtropical south and greater predation pressure on large vertebrates in the west.

Main Conclusions

Our results highlight the importance of climate to modern mammals and suggest that climate change will have strong impacts on these communities. Our new empirical approach to recognizing ecoregions has potential to be applied to expanded communities of mammals or other taxa.