The Invasion Criterion: A Common Currency for Ecological Research

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 34(10), P. 925 - 935

Published: July 9, 2019

Language: Английский

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Rainfall variability maintains grass‐forb species coexistence

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 22(10), P. 1658 - 1667

Published: July 12, 2019

Environmental variability can structure species coexistence by enhancing niche partitioning. Modern theory highlights two fluctuation-dependent temporal mechanisms -the storage effect and relative nonlinearity - but empirical tests are rare. Here, we experimentally test if environmental fluctuations enhance in a California annual grassland. We manipulate rainfall timing densities of the grass Avena barbata forb Erodium botrys, parameterise demographic model, partition mechanisms. Rainfall was integral to grass-forb coexistence. Variability enhanced growth rates both species, early-season drought essential for persistence. While theoretical developments have focused on effect, it not critical In comparison, strongly stabilised coexistence, where experienced disproportionately high under due competitive release from Avena. Our results underscore importance suggest that is underappreciated mechanism.

Language: Английский

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Understanding Maladaptation by Uniting Ecological and Evolutionary Perspectives

The American Naturalist, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 194(4), P. 495 - 515

Published: June 20, 2019

Evolutionary biologists have long trained their sights on adaptation, focusing the power of natural selection to produce relative fitness advantages while often ignoring changes in absolute fitness. Ecologists generally taken a different tack, abundance and ranges that reflect Uniting these perspectives, we articulate various causes maladaptation review numerous examples occurrence. This indicates is reasonably common from both yet contrasting ways. That is, can appear strong perspective, populations be growing abundance. Conversely, resident individuals locally adapted (relative nonresident individuals) declining Understanding interpreting disconnects between maladaptation, as well cases agreement, increasingly critical face accelerating human-mediated environmental change. We therefore present framework for studying particular relationship fitness, thereby drawing together evolutionary ecological perspectives. The unification perspectives has potential bring previously disjunct research areas addressing key conceptual issues specific practical problems.

Language: Английский

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Movement‐mediated community assembly and coexistence

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 95(4), P. 1073 - 1096

Published: April 20, 2020

ABSTRACT Organismal movement is ubiquitous and facilitates important ecological mechanisms that drive community metacommunity composition hence biodiversity. In most existing theories models in biodiversity research, represented simplistically, ignoring the behavioural basis of consequently variation behaviour at species individual levels. However, as human endeavours modify climate land use, processes organisms response to these changes, including movement, become critical understanding resulting loss. Here, we draw together research from different subdisciplines ecology understand impact individual‐level on community‐level patterns coexistence. We join framework with key concepts theory, assembly modern coexistence theory using idea micro–macro links, where various aspects emergent scale up local regional mobility mobile‐link‐generated abiotic biotic environmental conditions. These turn influence both and, timescales, such dispersal limitation, filtering, niche partitioning. conclude by highlighting challenges promising future avenues for data generation, analysis complementary modelling approaches provide a brief outlook how new behaviour‐based view becomes responses communities under ongoing change.

Language: Английский

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Effects of soil microbes on plant competition: a perspective from modern coexistence theory

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 90(1)

Published: Sept. 4, 2019

Abstract Growing evidence shows that soil microbes affect plant coexistence in a variety of systems. However, since these systems vary the impacts have on plants and ways compete with each other, it is challenging to integrate results into general predictive theory. To this end, we suggest concepts niche fitness difference from modern theory should be used contextualize how contribute coexistence. Synthesizing range mechanisms under plant–soil microbe interaction model, show that, depending host specificity, both pathogens mutualists can between competing plants. emphasize need also consider effect differences, role often overlooked when examining their Additionally, our framework predicts modify importance plant–plant competition relative other factors for determining outcome competition, experimental work simultaneously quantify microbial effects competition. Thus, propose designs efficiently measure processes applied identify underlying drivers Using an empirical case study, demonstrate driving counterintuitive, provides better way true through which

Language: Английский

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Signs of stabilisation and stable coexistence

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 22(11), P. 1957 - 1975

Published: July 21, 2019

Abstract Many empirical studies motivated by an interest in stable coexistence have quantified negative density dependence, frequency or plant–soil feedback, but the links between these results and ecological theory are not straightforward. Here, we relate analyses to theoretical conditions for stabilisation classical competition models. By stabilisation, mean excess of intraspecific relative interspecific that inherently slows even prevents competitive exclusion. We show most, though all, tests demonstrating feedback constitute sufficient two‐species interactions if applied data per capita population growth rates pairs species, none necessary two species. Potential inferences more limited when communities involve than performance is measured at a single life stage vital rate. then discuss approaches enable stronger coexistence‐invasibility experiments model parameterisation. The parameterisation approach can be typical density‐dependence, frequency‐dependence, sets, generally enables better with mechanisms greater insights, as demonstrated recent studies.

Language: Английский

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Using ecological coexistence theory to understand antibiotic resistance and microbial competition

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 5(4), P. 431 - 441

Published: Feb. 1, 2021

Language: Английский

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Intuitive and broadly applicable definitions of niche and fitness differences

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 23(7), P. 1117 - 1128

Published: April 27, 2020

Explaining nature's biodiversity is a key challenge for science. To persist, populations must be able to grow faster when rare, feature called negative frequency dependence and quantified as 'niche differences' ( N ) in modern coexistence theory. Here, we first show that available definitions of differ how link species interactions, are difficult interpret often apply specific community types only. We then present new definition intuitive applicable broader set (modelled empirical) communities than currently the case, filling main gap literature. Given , also redefine fitness differences F illustrate determine coexistence. Finally, demonstrate our theoretical models experimental data, provide ideas on they can facilitate comparison synthesis ecology.

Language: Английский

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Small rainfall changes drive substantial changes in plant coexistence

Nature, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 611(7936), P. 507 - 511

Published: Nov. 2, 2022

Language: Английский

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Widespread analytical pitfalls in empirical coexistence studies and a checklist for improving their statistical robustness

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(4), P. 594 - 611

Published: Feb. 28, 2024

Abstract Modern coexistence theory (MCT) offers a conceptually straightforward approach for connecting empirical observations with an elegant theoretical framework, gaining popularity rapidly over the past decade. However, beneath this surface‐level simplicity lie various assumptions and subjective choices made during data analysis. These can lead researchers to draw qualitatively different conclusions from same set of experiments. As predictions MCT studies are often treated as outcomes, many readers reviewers may not be familiar framework's assumptions, there is particular risk ‘researcher degrees freedom’ inflating confidence in results, thereby affecting reproducibility predictive power. To tackle these concerns, we introduce checklist consisting statistical best practices promote more robust applications MCT. Our recommendations organised into four categories: presentation sharing raw data, testing model fits, managing uncertainty associated coefficients incorporating predictions. We surveyed published 15 years discovered high degree variation level rigour adherence practices. present case illustrate dependence results on seemingly innocuous among competition structure error distributions, which some cases reversed predicted outcomes. demonstrate how analytical approaches profoundly alter interpretation experimental underscoring importance carefully considering thoroughly justifying each step taken analysis pathway. serves resource authors alike, providing guidance strengthen foundation analyses. field shifts descriptive, trailblazing phase stage consolidation, emphasise need caution when building upon findings earlier studies. ensure that progress ecological based reliable evidence, it crucial subject our predictions, generalisability rigorous assessment than currently trend.

Language: Английский

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