A First Indication That Rainforest Vine Proliferation Does Not Enhance Predator–Prey Interactions on the Forest Floor

Charlotte E. Raven; Helen F. Nahrung; Emma J. Mackintosh; Andrew R. Marshall; Andy G. Howe

doi:10.1111/eea.70159

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A First Indication That Rainforest Vine Proliferation Does Not Enhance Predator–Prey Interactions on the Forest Floor

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A First Indication That Rainforest Vine Proliferation Does Not Enhance Predator–Prey Interactions on the Forest Floor

Charlotte E. Raven, Helen F. Nahrung, Emma J. Mackintosh, Andrew R. Marshall and Andy G. Howe

Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, Vol.Advanced access

13-Jul-2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70159

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Abstract

arthropods

artifical sentinel prey

ecosystem function

habitat complexity

top-down control

trophic interactions

Tropical rainforests are globally threatened ecosystems where habitat disturbance and structural changes are often assumed to reduce ecosystem function, yet their impacts on ground‐level predator–prey interactions remain poorly understood. Invertebrate predators, particularly ground‐active taxa such as ants and beetles, play a key role in regulating herbivores and promoting plant productivity. This study examined ground predation rates and predator types using artificial caterpillars and a ratio of vines (primarily lianas and rattans) to trees as a proxy of disturbance in rainforests of north Queensland, Australia. Overall, predation rates were similar along the disturbance gradient; that is, vine‐to‐tree ratio was not related to predation. However, modelling predatory taxa separately revealed nuanced patterns: predation by small mammals decreased with increasing rattan stem density and ant abundance, but increased with coarse woody debris, while predation by arthropods declined with increasing litter depth. Our findings highlight the role of specific habitat features on the forest floor in influencing ground‐level predation in a tropical rainforest, revealing that spatial scale and foraging strategies shape trophic interactions and ecosystem function.

Details

Title: A First Indication That Rainforest Vine Proliferation Does Not Enhance Predator–Prey Interactions on the Forest Floor
Authors: Charlotte E. Raven (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Helen F. Nahrung - University of the Sunshine Coast
Emma J. Mackintosh - University of the Sunshine Coast
Andrew R. Marshall - University of the Sunshine Coast
Andy G. Howe - University of the Sunshine Coast
Publication details: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, Vol.Advanced access
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
DOI: 10.1111/eea.70159
ISSN: 1570-7458
Copyright note: © 2026 The Author(s). Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Netherlands Entomological Society. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Data Availability: The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in the Tern Data Discovery Portal at https://doi.org/10.25901/e9jt-tt26.
Grants: Understanding the importance of lianas for forest health and management, FT170100279, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, RTP, Department of Education (Australia, Canberra)
Organisation Unit: Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; Forest Industries Research Centre; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Forest Research Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991246798902621
Output Type: Journal article

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