DOI: 10.5061/dryad.zs7h44jdj
title: Unraveling the cavity-nesting network at large spatial scales: The biogeographic role of woodpeckers as ecosystem engineers

description: Aim: Cavities are usually a limiting resource for several forest-dwelling
 vertebrates, with effects that propagate through ecological networks.
 Although diverse assemblages of primary excavators (e.g., woodpeckers) are
 assumed to increase cavities, other forest resources can also limit
 populations of primary excavators and cavity users, thus undermining the
 ecological role of excavators over different scales. We aim to test the
 biogeographical-scale relationships between primary excavators and cavity
 users by distinguishing the contribution of forest characteristics.
 Location: Southern South America Methods: We used species distribution
 models, which combine bioclimatic and remote sensing derived variables, to
 map the richness of vertebrates composing the cavity network of temperate
 and Mediterranean forests of South America. Based on a resampling
 procedure for ensuring spatial independence, we fitted structural equation
 models to estimate causal relationships between forest characteristics and
 cavity-user vertebrates. Results: Secondary cavity users (obligated,
 habitat generalists and forest specialists) were positively and strongly
 influenced by the richness of primary excavators, while mammal richness
 was more influenced by tree richness. The richness of trees and Nothofagus
 tree species influenced positively the richness of primary excavators and
 secondary cavity users. Canopy height and net primary productivity
 affected positively secondary cavity users. Main conclusions: Our results
 confirm the role of primary excavators as ecosystem engineers but
 highlight the importance of considering large spatial scales when
 analyzing cavity-nesting networks. Biogeographical patterns of tree
 diversity and forest structure can be important drivers of cavity-nesting
 networks that remain hidden when studies are conducted over fine spatial
 scales. 
description: * Methods of data collection/generation: see manuscript for
 details.
description: # Unraveling the cavity-nesting network at large spatial scales: the
 biogeographic role of woodpeckers as ecosystem engineers ## Description of
 the Data and file structure The spatial database that was used to model
 the cavity-nesting network in southern South America. Each variable was
 used in SEM analysis # Reference Information ## Provenance for this README
 * File name: README_ALANIZ_JBI_2024.txt * Authors: Alberto J. Alaniz,
 Mario A. Carvajal, Madelaine Quiroz, Pablo M. Vergara, Pablo A. Marquet,
 Andrés Fierro, Kathryn E. Sieving, Darío Moreira-Arce, Claudia
 Hidalgo-Corrotea, Annia Rodríguez-San Pedro, Luis Allendes & Katerine
 Machuca * Date created: 2022-09-19 * Date modified: 2022-09-20 ## Dataset
 Version and Release History * Current Version: * Number: 3.0.0 * Date:
 2023-12-04 * Persistent identifier: DOI: 10.5061/dryad.zs7h44jd * Summary
 of changes: n/a * Embargo Provenance: n/a * Scope of embargo: n/a *
 Embargo period: n/a ## Dataset Attribution and Usage * Dataset Title: Data
 for the article "Unraveling the cavity-nesting network at large
 spatial scales: The biogeographic role of woodpeckers as ecosystem
 engineers" * Persistent Identifier:
 * Dataset Contributors:
 Alberto J. Alaniz, Mario A. Carvajal, Madelaine Quiroz, Pablo M. Vergara,
 Pablo A. Marquet, Andrés Fierro, Kathryn E. Sieving, Darío Moreira-Arce,
 Claudia Hidalgo-Corrotea, Annia Rodríguez-San Pedro, Luis Allendes &
 Katerine Machuca * Date of Issue: 2023-12-08 * Publisher: University of
 Santiago * License: Use of these data is covered by the following license:
 * Title: CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) * Specification:
 ; the authors
 respectfully request to be contacted by researchers interested in the
 re-use of these data so that the possibility of collaboration can be
 discussed. * Suggested Citations: * Dataset citation: &gt; Alaniz et al
 2024. Data for the article "Unraveling the cavity-nesting network at
 large spatial scales: The biogeographic role of woodpeckers as ecosystem
 engineers", Dryad, Dataset,
 * Corresponding
 publication: &gt; Alaniz et al 2024. Unraveling the cavity-nesting network
 at large spatial scales: The biogeographic role of woodpeckers as
 ecosystem engineers. Journal of Biogeography. Accepted. DOI: ---- ##
 Contact Information * Name: Pablo M. Vergara * Affiliations: Universidad
 de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Facultad Tecnológica, Departamento de
 Gestión Agraria, Santiago, Chile * ORCID ID:
 * Email:
 * Address: e-mail preferred * Alternative
 Contact: * Name: Alberto J. Alaniz * Affiliations: Universidad de Santiago
 de Chile (USACH), Facultad Tecnológica, Departamento de Gestión Agraria,
 Santiago, Chile * ORCID ID: 
 * Email: * Address: e-mail preferred --- #
 Additional Dataset Metadata ## Acknowledgements * Funding sources: This
 research was funded by ANID-FONDECY number 1180978 and Proyecto DICYT
 Postdoc, Código 082375VE_Postdoc, Vicerrectoría de Investigación,
 Desarrollo e Innovación, Universidad de Santiago de Chile. ## Dates and
 Locations * Dates of data collection: Field data collected from our own
 records, occurrences collected from previously published studies and data
 repositories. * Geographic locations of data collection: Occurrences
 across southern south American Conus. * Other locations pertaining to
 dataset contents: Botany Museum of the University of Concepción (trees
 dataset) --- # Methodological Information * Methods of data
 collection/generation: see manuscript for details --- # Data and File
 Overview ## Summary Metrics * File count: 1 * Total file size: 638 KB *
 File format: .csv ## Table of Contents * DATA_CAVITIES.csv ## Setup *
 Unpacking instructions: n/a * Recommended software/tools: RStudio
 2021.09.2; R version 3.6.3 --- ## Sharing/access Information Data was not
 derived from another source. * Description: a comma-delimited file
 containing the information of cavity nesting network richness and
 environmental variables * Format(s): csv * Size(s): 638 KB * Dimensions:
 4253 rows x 17 columns * Variables: * Lat: Latitude (in meters based on
 WGS_1984_World_Mercator) * Long: Longitude (in meters based on
 WGS_1984_World_Mercator) * USERS_TOT: richness of all cavity users (Number
 of species) * USERS_O: richness of obligated cavity users (Number of
 species) * USERS_G: richness of generalist cavity users (Number of
 species) * USERS_FS: richness of forest specialists (Number of species) *
 USERS_MAM: richness of mammal cavity users (Number of species) * primary:
 richness of woodpeckers (Number of species) * tree_ri: richness of tree
 species (Number of species) * ghm: human footprint index (dimensionless
 index ranging from 0 to 1) * height: Forest canopy height (in meters) *
 psri: plant senescence reflectance index (dimensionless index ranging from
 -1 to 1) * npp: net primary production of plants ( in kg*C/m^2 scaled by
 0.0001) * notho_ri: richness of nothofagus species (Number of species) *
 biomass: aboveground biomass (in mg / ha) * Biome: biome type (1= Chilean
 matorral, 2=Valdivian temperate forest, 3= Magellanic subpolar forest) ---
 END OF README