Herbivore Diet Selectivity and Its Influence over Ecosystem Recycling in Wrangel Island

Research on Wrangel Island reveals that herbivore diet selectivity, driven by morphophysiological traits, significantly influences ecosystem dynamics. The study demonstrates that under equal conditions, less selective feeders dominate as biodiversity increases, leading to substantial reductions in total herbivore biomass and phytomass consumption—potentially decreasing primary production more than fourfold. Despite human impact on species composition, the island's herbivore abundance distribution follows an endogenous dynamic corresponding to ecological succession. The findings highlight the critical role of interspecific interactions in shaping Arctic ecosystems under climate change.

Sheremetev, I. S., Rosenfeld, S. B., & Baranyuk, V. V. (2021). Herbivore Diet Selectivity and Its Influence over Ecosystem Recycling in Wrangel Island. Contemporary Problems of Ecology, 14(2), 138–148. https://doi.org/10.1134/s1995425521020104