Quantifying the ecosystem service of scavenging by the sentinel method

Abstract

Scavenging as an ecosystem service is largely understudied. In this work, we aimed to measure scavenging levels in different habitat types on the Macaronesia Island of Terceira, Portugal, and on the island of Zealand, Denmark. The habitats studied in Terceira were orchards, vineyards, native forest, and urban areas. In Denmark the habitats were fields (wheat), edge fields, primary forest, and urban areas. We used fly larvae glued to cardboard squares to measure scavenging rates. The boxes were exposed during the day and night and checked every 2 hours to monitor changes in sweep levels. Overall scavenging levels, at 64.5% in Terceira and 29.5% in Denmark by arthropods, were much higher than expected.