Assembly processes inferred from eDNA surveys of a pond metacommunity are consistent with known species ecologies

Ecography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 4, 2025

Technological advances are enabling ecologists to conduct large‐scale and structured community surveys. However, it is unclear how best extract information from these novel data. We metabarcoded 48 vertebrate species their eDNA in 320 ponds across England applied the ‘internal structure' approach, which uses joint distribution models (JSDMs) explain compositions as result of four metacommunity processes: environmental filtering, dispersal, interactions, stochasticity. confirm that filtering plays an important role assembly, find species' estimated preferences consistent with known ecologies. also detect negative biotic covariances between fish amphibians after controlling for divergent preferences, predator–prey interactions (likely mediated by predator avoidance behaviour), we high spatial autocorrelation palmate newt, its hypothesised relict distribution. Promisingly, ecologically spatially distinctive sites better explained covariates geographic locations, respectively, revealing where dispersal limitation act more strongly. These results recent proposal applying JSDMs patterns can help reveal relative importance limitation, interaction processes individual species. Our highlight value modern interpretation ecology, embraces fact assembly differ among sites. discuss data allow several study design improvements will strengthen inference observational

Language: Английский

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The internal structure of metacommunities

Oikos, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2022(1)

Published: Oct. 19, 2021

Current analyses of metacommunity data largely focus on global attributes across the entire metacommunity, such as mean alpha, beta, and gamma diversity, well partitioning compositional variation into single estimates contributions space environmental effects and, more recently, possible species interactions. However, this view neglects fact that different sites in landscape can vary widely how they contribute to these metacommunity‐wide attributes. We argue for a new conceptual framework with matched analytics goals studying complex interactive relations between process pattern metacommunities is focused among which we call ‘internal structure' metacommunity. To demonstrate internal structure could be studied, create synthetic using process‐based colonization–extinction model. then use joint distribution models estimate space, environment, biotic interactions driving assembly differ sites. find approach provides useful information about distinct ways structure. Although it has limitations, our work points at general understand other complexities might affect thus incorporated cohesive theory.

Language: Английский

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Detecting patterns of vertebrate biodiversity across the multidimensional urban landscape

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 25(4), P. 1027 - 1045

Published: Feb. 3, 2022

Abstract Explicit characterisation of the complexity urban landscapes is critical for understanding patterns biodiversity and detecting underlying social ecological processes that shape them. Urban environments exhibit variable heterogeneity connectivity, influenced by different historical contingencies, affect community assembly across scales. The multidimensional nature disturbance co‐occurrence multiple stressors can cause synergistic effects leading to nonlinear responses in populations communities. Yet, current research design ecology evolutionary studies typically relies on simple representation parameter space be observed. Sampling approaches apply gradients such as linear transects or comparisons sites mosaic accounting a few variables. This rarely considers dimensions scales biodiversity, proves inadequate explain observed patterns. We approach integrates distinctive social, built characteristics landscapes, representing variations along heterogeneity, connectivity contingency. Measuring species richness beta diversity 100 US metropolitan areas at city 1‐km scales, we show signatures result from interactions between socioecological mediated

Language: Английский

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Pondscape or waterscape? The effect on the diversity of dispersal along different freshwater ecosystems

Hydrobiologia, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 850(15), P. 3211 - 3223

Published: Jan. 4, 2023

Language: Английский

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Heterogeneity in the isolation of patches may be essential for the action of metacommunity mechanisms

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: March 31, 2023

The spatial isolation gradient of communities and the in species dispersal ability are recognized as determinants biodiversity metacommunities. In spite this, mean field models, spatially explicit experiments were mainly focused on idealized arrangements leaving aside combining role gradients metacommunity processes. Consequently, we have an incipient understanding real arrangement patterns. We focus six metacommunities for which confident information about water bodies is available. Using coalescent models null that randomize location bodies, estimated potential effect landscape its dependence ability. At extremely low or high abilities, ponds does not influence diversity because different equally affected by incoming dispersal. intermediate peripheral present a much lower richness higher beta than central communities. Moreover, from landscapes host more randomized landscapes, result determined heterogeneity geographic gradient, mass effects systematically increase local decrease diversity. However, patches only has large importance processes at ensures access to locations but limits isolated ongoing reduction extent simplification may consequently undermine support biodiversity, something should be explicitly considered preserving restoring strategies.

Language: Английский

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Microbial community organization designates distinct pulmonary exacerbation types and predicts treatment outcome in cystic fibrosis

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: June 7, 2024

Abstract Polymicrobial infection of the airways is a hallmark obstructive lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF), non-CF bronchiectasis, and chronic pulmonary disease. Pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) in these conditions are associated with accelerated function decline higher mortality rates. Understanding PEx ecology challenged by high inter-patient variability airway microbial community profiles. We analyze bacterial communities 880 CF sputum samples collected during an observational prospective cohort study develop microbiome descriptors to model reorganization prior 18 PEx. identify two dysbiosis regimes opposing dynamics. Pathogen-governed show hierarchical reduced diversity, whereas anaerobic bloom display stochasticity increased diversity. A simulation antimicrobial treatment predicts better efficacy for hierarchically organized communities. This link between PEx, organization, success advances development personalized clinical management and, potentially, other diseases.

Language: Английский

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Species assemblage networks identify regional connectivity pathways among hydrothermal vents in the Northwest Pacific

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(12)

Published: Dec. 1, 2022

The distribution of species among spatially isolated habitat patches supports regional biodiversity and stability, so understanding the underlying processes structure is a key target conservation. Although multivariate statistics can infer connectivity driving distribution, such as dispersal suitability, they rarely explore structure. Methods from graph theory, applied to data, give insights into both pathways by intuitively formatting data network patches. We apply these methods empirical hydrothermal vent habitats Northwest Pacific. Hydrothermal vents are "oases" biological productivity endemicity on seafloor that imminently threatened anthropogenic disturbances with unknown consequences biodiversity. Here, we describe assemblage networks at vents, how local parameters affect their structure, implications for Two complementary were formed an extensive dataset: similarity site nodes linked weighted edges based pairwise bipartite which present. Using networks, assessed role individual sites in maintaining identified biogeographic sub-regions. three sub-regions two outlying separated spatial arrangement environmental filters. Both detected play disproportionately important pathways, while also distinct assemblages These provide historical colonization routes, sub-regional value when selecting conservation and/or estimating multivent impacts proposed deep-sea mining.

Language: Английский

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Heterogeneous dispersal networks to improve biodiversity science

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 39(3), P. 229 - 238

Published: Oct. 25, 2023

Language: Английский

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Water‐controlled ecosystems as complex networks: Evaluation of network‐based approaches to quantify patterns of connectivity

Ecohydrology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(7)

Published: July 10, 2024

Abstract This study provides a new perspective on understanding the intricacies of water‐mediated connectivity in ecosystems, bridging landscape ecology and geomorphology through network science. We highlight dryland river‐floodplain ecosystems as distinct examples contrasting water‐controlled systems. (1) discuss central considerations developing structural functional networks connectivity; (2) quantify emergent patterns these networks; (3) evaluate capacity science tools for investigating characteristics. With focus strength (weights) direction, is quantified using seven parameters at both node levels. find that link density, betweenness centrality page rank are highly sensitive to directionality; global efficiency degree particularly weights; relative remains unaffected by weights directions. Our underscores how approaches can transform we understand connectivity, especially consideration role(s) directionality. interdisciplinary perspective, linking ecology, hydrology geomorphology, has implications theoretical insights practical applications environmental management conservation efforts.

Language: Английский

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The effects of anisotropic dispersal on species coexistence in a metacommunity

Biology Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 21(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Dispersal is a ubiquitous process occurring in any ecosystem, with critical role the regional coexistence of species that cannot coexist locally. However, previous studies have typically focused on specific scenario where dispersal isotropic, leaving consequence anisotropic, directionally skewed largely unexplored, despite its prevalence natural ecosystems. In this study, we used simulations to study whether anisotropy promotes or hinders metacommunity. We found plays decisive coexistence—with promoted when more directed orthogonally an environmental gradient, while it less likely primarily parallel gradient. This occurred because background gradient transports individuals produced ‘good’ habitats other good habitats, creating conditions favour several spatial mechanisms, such as storage effects and fitness–density covariance. conclude effect anisotropic could be diverse, therefore, necessary consider distribution environments for better understanding

Language: Английский

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