The significance of vertebrates in the structure and functioning of ecosystems

A review of published data on the ecology of terrestrial vertebrates and, partly, fishes is used as a basis to show that their communities have only a weak relationship to the structure of phytocenoses. Unlike plants, vertebrates actively choose preferable biotopes and do not die off upon transition between the stages of succession. The role of vertebrates in the functioning of ecosystems is determined by their contribution to matter and energy turnover and effect on the structure of ecosystems of different ranks. The transfer of matter and energy in food chains accelerates their turnover, and the distribution of excrements and corpses within the ranges of animal activity and migrations modulates the pattern of matter and energy fluxes over the Earth’s surface. The spread of plant diaspores by animals and the burrowing and feeding activities of first-order consumers give rise to microsuccessions within macrosuccession stages, thereby contributing to the diversity of vegetation. In some cases, the activities of first-order consumers may result in the cessation of succession.