Abstract

Climate controls the amount of energy available for plants, which in turn determines the quantity of resources available for animals. It follows that when climate changes, so should trophic communities. Using a novel modeling approach, we investigated how bird and mammal trophic communities might disassemble and reassemble under 21st century climate changes. We show that trophic structures are expected to undergo profound changes globally, chiefly in the tropics and across high latitudes in the northern hemisphere. This trophic reorganization of communities is characterized by shifts in species richness within trophic guilds. While species in some guilds might face population collapses, species in other guilds are expected to find new opportunities to maintain stable populations in previously saturated areas. The proposed models offer a tool for projecting and understanding the trophic ramifications of climate change, highlighting their potential in guiding future research and conservation efforts.