Publications by authors named "Erik Kusch"
Article Synopsis
- Alpine grasslands are crucial for biodiversity but face threats from climate change and environmental shifts, prompting research into how vegetation reacts to these changes for better ecosystem understanding.* -
- Researchers studied plant traits in Puna grasslands in the Peruvian Andes across 1314 meters in elevation, gathering data on plant composition, biomass, climate, and more over three years.* -
- The study resulted in a comprehensive dataset with 3,665 plant records and 54,036 trait measurements, significantly enhancing existing knowledge of local flora by 420% and including many previously undocumented plant traits.*
Despite exponential growth in ecological data availability, broader interoperability amongst datasets is needed to unlock the potential of open access. Our understanding of the interface of demography and functional traits is well-positioned to benefit from such interoperability. Here, we introduce MOSAIC, an open-access trait database that unlocks the demographic potential stored in the COMADRE, COMPADRE, and PADRINO open-access databases.
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- Introduced large herbivores, like feral donkeys, have partly replaced extinct megafauna and negatively impact ecosystems due to a lack of predator control.
- This study documents the first instance of cougars preying on juvenile feral donkeys in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, affecting their behavior and the surrounding desert wetlands.
- Feral donkeys showed significantly reduced activity and disturbance in areas with cougar predation, indicating that protecting apex predators can positively influence ecosystem dynamics involving introduced species.