A process‐based metacommunity framework linking local and regional scale community ecology

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 23(9), P. 1314 - 1329

Published: July 16, 2020

Abstract The metacommunity concept has the potential to integrate local and regional dynamics within a general community ecology framework. To this end, must move beyond discrete archetypes that have largely defined it (e.g. neutral vs. species sorting) better incorporate scale interactions coexistence mechanisms. Here, we present fundamental reconception of framework explicitly links theory spatial processes inherent theory, allowing for continuous range competitive dynamics. These emerge from three underlying shape ecological communities: (1) density‐independent responses abiotic conditions, (2) density‐dependent biotic (3) dispersal. Stochasticity is incorporated in demographic realisation each these processes. We formalise using simulation model explores wide by varying strength Using framework, show how existing theories, including traditional archetypes, are linked common set then use generate new hypotheses about combine interactively diversity, functioning stability metacommunities.

Language: Английский

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Integrating the underlying structure of stochasticity into community ecology

Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 101(2)

Published: Oct. 25, 2019

Abstract Stochasticity is a core component of ecology, as it underlies key processes that structure and create variability in nature. Despite its fundamental importance ecological systems, the concept often treated synonymous with unpredictability community studies tend to focus on single forms stochasticity rather than taking more holistic view. This has led multiple narratives for how mediates dynamics. Here, we present framework describes different (notably demographic environmental stochasticity) combine provide underlying predictable diverse communities. builds deep understanding stochastic acting at individual population levels modules few interacting species. We support our mathematical model use synthesize literature, demonstrating simple uncertainty. Rather, profound effects dynamics are critical diversity maintained. propose next steps ecologists might explore role structuring communities theoretical empirical thereby enhance

Language: Английский

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Land‐use change and biodiversity: Challenges for assembling evidence on the greatest threat to nature

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(21), P. 5414 - 5429

Published: Aug. 15, 2021

Land-use change is considered the greatest threat to nature, having caused worldwide declines in abundance, diversity, and health of species ecosystems. Despite increasing research on this global driver, there are still challenges forming an effective synthesis. The estimated impact land-use biodiversity can depend location, methods, taxonomic focus, with recent meta-analyses reaching disparate conclusions. Here, we critically appraise body our ability reach a reliable consensus. We employ named entity recognition analyze more than 4000 abstracts, alongside full reading 100 randomly selected papers. highlight broad range study designs methodologies used; most common being local space-for-time comparisons that classify land use situ. Species metrics including distribution, diversity were measured frequently complex responses such as demography, vital rates, behavior. identified biases, vertebrates well represented while detritivores largely missing. Omitting group may hinder understanding how affects ecosystem feedback. Research was heavily biased toward temperate forested biomes North America Europe, warmer regions acutely underrepresented despite offering potential insights into future effects under novel climates. Various histories covered, although understudied Africa Middle East required capture regional differences form current historical practices. Failure address these will impede impacts biodiversity, limit reliability projections have repercussions for conservation threatened species. Beyond identifying literature priorities data gaps need urgent attention offer perspectives move forward.

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity conservation through the lens of metacommunity ecology

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 1469(1), P. 86 - 104

Published: May 14, 2020

Abstract Metacommunity ecology combines local (e.g., environmental filtering and biotic interactions) regional dispersal heterogeneity) processes to understand patterns of species abundance, occurrence, composition, diversity across scales space time. As such, it has a great potential generalize synthesize our understanding many ecological problems. Here, we give an overview how metacommunity perspective can provide useful insights for conservation biology, which aims mitigate the effects anthropogenic drivers that decrease population sizes, increase extinction probabilities, threaten biodiversity. We review four general processes—environmental filtering, interactions, dispersal, drift—and discuss key habitat loss fragmentation, nonnative species) alter these processes. next describe interest in metacommunities (abundance, occupancy, diversity) map onto issues at heart cases where biology benefits by taking scale‐explicit perspective. conclude with some ways forward including perspectives into ideas ecosystem functioning services, as well approaches management, preservation, restoration.

Language: Английский

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The Causes and Consequences of Seed Dispersal

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 54(1), P. 403 - 427

Published: Aug. 22, 2023

Seed dispersal, or the movement of diaspores away from parent location, is a multiscale, multipartner process that depends on interaction plant life history with vector and environment. dispersal underpins many important ecological evolutionary processes such as gene flow, population dynamics, range expansion, diversity. We review exciting new directions field seed ecology evolution has taken over past 40 years. provide an overview ultimate causes consequences this for community dynamics. also discuss several emergent unifying frameworks are being used to study describe how they can be integrated more mechanistic understanding dispersal.

Language: Английский

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Altered litter stoichiometry drives energy dynamics of food webs through changing multiple facets of soil biodiversity

Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 191, P. 109331 - 109331

Published: Jan. 24, 2024

Language: Английский

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Interactions and Migration Rescuing Ecological Diversity

PRX Life, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2(1)

Published: March 18, 2024

How diversity is maintained in natural ecosystems a long-standing question Theoretical Ecology. By studying system that combines ecological dynamics, heterogeneous interactions, and spatial structure, we uncover new mechanism for the survival of diversity-rich presence demographic fluctuations. For single species, one finds continuous phase transition between an extinction state, falls into universality class Directed Percolation. Here show case many species with interactions different richer. merging theory simulations, demonstrate sufficiently strong noise, exhibits behavior akin to single-species case, undergoing transition. Conversely, at low observe unique features indicative ecosystem's complexity. The combined effects heterogeneity interaction network migration enable community thrive, even situations where noise would lead isolated species. emergence mutualism induces development global bistability, accompanied by sudden tipping points. We present way predict catastrophic shift from high probing responses perturbations as early warning signal. Published American Physical Society 2024

Language: Английский

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Building pondscapes for amphibian metapopulations

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(6)

Published: May 7, 2024

Abstract The success of ponds constructed to restore ecological infrastructure for pond‐breeding amphibians and benefit aquatic biodiversity depends on where how they are built. We studied effects pond landscape characteristics, including connectivity, metapopulation dynamics 12 amphibian species in Switzerland. To understand the determinants long‐term occupancy (here summarized as incidence), environmental both colonization persistence should be considered. fitted dynamic models 20 years monitoring data a construction program quantify characteristics different connectivity metrics probabilities ponds. Connectivity existing populations explained better than structural metrics, simple (distance nearest neighbor population, population density) were useful surrogates dispersal kernel‐weighted commonly used theory. Population mediated conservation target new ponds, suggesting source–sink newly established populations. density captured this effect well could by practitioners site selection. Ponds created there 2–4 occupied within radius ∼0.5 km had >3.5 times higher incidence (median) isolated Species individual preferences regarding but breeding sites with larger (≥100 m 2 ) total water surface area, that temporarily dried, surroundings maximally 50% forest benefitted multiple species. Pond diversity will foster at scale.

Language: Английский

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The role of stochasticity in fungal community assembly: explaining apparent stochasticity with field experiments

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 292(2040)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Stochasticity is a main process in community assembly. However, experimental studies rarely target stochasticity natural communities, and hence validation of estimates observational lacking. Here, we combine data to unravel the role assembly wood-inhabiting fungi. We carried out replicated field experiment where colonization focal fungal species was simulated through inoculation, local communities were monitored DNA metabarcoding before after inoculations. The amount less pronounced than expected from unpredictability data, suggesting that may play smaller occurrence previously anticipated, or it be stronger influence dispersal establishment phases per se . more prominent initial phase succession, with earliest successional stage involving higher level later 2 years. conclude experimentally measuring feasible for species-rich under conditions highlight importance testing accuracy based on data.

Language: Английский

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Exploring the spatio-temporal dynamics of disturbed metacommunities: A mechanistic modeling approach to species resistance and resilience strategies in drying river networks

Ecological Modelling, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 506, P. 111136 - 111136

Published: May 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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