Conceptual Synthesis in Community Ecology

The Quarterly Review of Biology, Journal Year: 2010, Volume and Issue: 85(2), P. 183 - 206

Published: May 25, 2010

Community ecology is often perceived as a "mess, "given the seemingly vast number of processes that can underlie many patterns interest, and apparent uniqueness each study system. However, at most general level, in composition diversity species--the subject matter community ecology--are influenced by only four classes process: selection, drift, speciation, dispersal. Selection represents deterministic fitness differences among species, drift stochastic changes species abundance, speciation creates new dispersal movement organisms across space. All theoretical conceptual models be understood with respect to their emphasis on these processes. Empirical evidence exists for all interactions, predominance studies selection. Organizing material according this framework clarify essential similarities approaches discipline, it also allow articulation very theory dynamics: are added communities via dispersal, relative abundances then shaped well ongoing drive dynamics.

Language: Английский

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The merging of community ecology and phylogenetic biology

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2009, Volume and Issue: 12(7), P. 693 - 715

Published: May 18, 2009

The increasing availability of phylogenetic data, computing power and informatics tools has facilitated a rapid expansion studies that apply data methods to community ecology. Several key areas are reviewed in which information helps resolve long-standing controversies ecology, challenges previous assumptions, opens new investigation. In particular, ecology have helped reveal the multitude processes driving assembly demonstrated importance evolution process. Phylogenetic approaches also increased understanding consequences interactions for speciation, adaptation extinction. Finally, structure composition holds promise predicting ecosystem impacts global change. Major advancing these remain. determining extent ecologically relevant traits phylogenetically conserved or convergent, over what temporal scale, is critical causes its evolutionary consequences. Harnessing understand forecast changes diversity dynamics communities step managing restoring Earth's biota time

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 45(1), P. 471 - 493

Published: Oct. 8, 2014

Species diversity is a major determinant of ecosystem productivity, stability, invasibility, and nutrient dynamics. Hundreds studies spanning terrestrial, aquatic, marine ecosystems show that high-diversity mixtures are approximately twice as productive monocultures the same species this difference increases through time. These impacts higher have multiple causes, including interspecific complementarity, greater use limiting resources, decreased herbivory disease, nutrient-cycling feedbacks increase stores supply rates over long term. experimentally observed effects consistent with predictions based on variety theories share common feature: All trade-off-based mechanisms allow long-term coexistence many different competing species. Diversity loss has an effect great as, or than, herbivory, fire, drought, nitrogen addition, elevated CO 2 , other drivers environmental change. The preservation, conservation, restoration biodiversity should be high global priority.

Language: Английский

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Stochastic Community Assembly: Does It Matter in Microbial Ecology?

Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 81(4)

Published: Oct. 12, 2017

Understanding the mechanisms controlling community diversity, functions, succession, and biogeography is a central, but poorly understood, topic in ecology, particularly microbial ecology. Although stochastic processes are believed to play nonnegligible roles shaping structure, their importance relative deterministic hotly debated. The of ecological stochasticity structure far less appreciated. Some main reasons for such heavy debates difficulty defining diverse methods used delineating stochasticity. Here, we provide critical review synthesis data from most recent studies on assembly We then describe both components embedded various processes, including selection, dispersal, diversification, drift. also different approaches inferring observational diversity patterns highlight experimental communities. In addition, research challenges, gaps, future directions research.

Language: Английский

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An ecological and evolutionary perspective on human–microbe mutualism and disease

Nature, Journal Year: 2007, Volume and Issue: 449(7164), P. 811 - 818

Published: Oct. 1, 2007

Language: Английский

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Disentangling the importance of ecological niches from stochastic processes across scales

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2011, Volume and Issue: 366(1576), P. 2351 - 2363

Published: July 18, 2011

Deterministic theories in community ecology suggest that local, niche-based processes, such as environmental filtering, biotic interactions and interspecific trade-offs largely determine patterns of species diversity composition. In contrast, more stochastic emphasize the importance chance colonization, random extinction ecological drift. The schisms between deterministic perspectives, which date back to earliest days ecology, continue fuel contemporary debates (e.g. niches versus neutrality). As illustrated by pioneering studies Robert H. MacArthur co-workers, resolution these requires consideration how local processes changes across scales. Here, we develop a framework for disentangling relative generating site-to-site variation composition (β-diversity) along gradients (disturbance, productivity interactions) among biogeographic regions differ size regional pool. We illustrate discern using null-model approaches explicitly account factors inherently create turnover. By embracing scales, can build synthetic understanding structure biodiversity face emerge from factors.

Language: Английский

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A meta‐analysis of biotic resistance to exotic plant invasions

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2004, Volume and Issue: 7(10), P. 975 - 989

Published: Sept. 6, 2004

Abstract Biotic resistance describes the ability of resident species in a community to reduce success exotic invasions. Although is well‐accepted phenomenon, less clear are processes that contribute most it, and whether those strong enough completely repel invaders. Current perceptions strong, competition‐driven biotic stem from classic ecological theory, Elton's formulation resistance, general acceptance enemies‐release hypothesis. We conducted meta‐analysis plant invasions literature quantify contribution competitors, diversity, herbivores soil fungal communities resistance. Results indicated large negative effects all factors except on invader establishment performance. Contrary predictions derived natural enemies hypothesis, reduced invasion as effectively competitors. significantly individual invaders, we found little evidence interactions repelled conclude rarely enable resist invasion, but instead constrain abundance invasive once they have successfully established.

Language: Английский

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Quantifying the roles of immigration and chance in shaping prokaryote community structure

Environmental Microbiology, Journal Year: 2005, Volume and Issue: 8(4), P. 732 - 740

Published: Dec. 8, 2005

Naturally occurring populations of bacteria and archaea are vital to life on the earth enormous practical significance in medicine, engineering agriculture. However, rules governing formation such communities still poorly understood, there is a need for usable mathematical description this process. Typically, microbial community structure thought be shaped mainly by deterministic factors as competition niche differentiation. Here we show, wide range prokaryotic communities, that relative abundance frequency with which different taxa observed samples can explained neutral model (NCM). The NCM, stochastic, birth-death immigration process, does not explicitly represent therefore cannot complete or literal assembly. its success suggests chance important forces shaping patterns seen communities.

Language: Английский

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Rethinking Community Assembly through the Lens of Coexistence Theory

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 43(1), P. 227 - 248

Published: Aug. 30, 2012

Although research on the role of competitive interactions during community assembly began decades ago, a recent revival interest has led to new discoveries and opportunities. Using contemporary coexistence theory that emphasizes stabilizing niche differences relative fitness differences, we evaluate three empirical approaches for studying assembly. We show experimental manipulations abiotic or biotic environment, assessments trait-phylogeny-environment relationships, investigations frequency-dependent population growth all suggest strong influences outcome plant Nonetheless, due limitations these applied in isolation, still have poor understanding which axes traits determine competition structure. Combining current represents our best chance achieving this goal, is fundamental conceptual ecology management communities under global change.

Language: Английский

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Plant invasions: merging the concepts of species invasiveness and community invasibility

Progress in Physical Geography Earth and Environment, Journal Year: 2006, Volume and Issue: 30(3), P. 409 - 431

Published: June 6, 2006

This paper considers key issues in plant invasion ecology, where findings published since 1990 have significantly improved our understanding of many aspects invasions. The review focuses on vascular plants invading natural and semi-natural ecosystems, fundamental ecological relating to species invasiveness community invasibility. Three big questions addressed by the SCOPE programme 1980s (which invade; which habitats are invaded; how can we manage invasions?) still underpin most work ecology. Some organizing unifying themes field organism-focused relate (the tens rule; concept residence time; taxonomic patterns Darwin’s naturalization hypothesis; phenotypic plasticity rapid evolutionary change, including evolution increased competitive ability role long-distance dispersal). Others ecosystem-centred deal with determinants invasibility communities, regions (levels invasion, propagule pressure; biotic resistance hypothesis links between diversity invasibility; synergisms, mutualisms, invasional meltdown). theories taken an overarching approach invasions integrating concepts (a theory seed invasiveness; fluctuating resources invasibility). Concepts, hypotheses reviewed here be linked naturalization-invasion continuum concept, relates processes a sequence environmental barriers that introduced must negotiate become casual, naturalized invasive. New research tools ecology succession conservation biology weed science, respectively, strengthened conceptual pillars

Language: Английский

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