The European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) as an ecosystem engineer in arid environments

Arid environments are fragile ecosystems where management is particularly complicated. Determining target species that contribute to understanding the functioning of such environments is of basic importance. Here we assess the role of the European bee-eater, a burrow-nesting bird species, as an ecosystem engineer in and ecosystems. We conclude that this species may play an important function in basic abiotic and biotic processes of and environments since: (i) it can be a major bioturbating organism in and areas, removing a noticeable amount of soil and making it more sensitive to climatic factors, (ii) it enhances biodiversity by providing nesting and roosting habitats to a broad array of organisms, and (iii) it provides resources (food) to many other species, thus reinforcing the structure of the community and enhancing more complex food webs. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.