Identifying and explaining resilience in ecological networks

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(8)

Published: Aug. 1, 2024

Abstract Resilient ecological systems are more likely to persist and function in the Anthropocene. Current methods for estimating an ecosystem's resilience rely on accurately parameterized ecosystem models, which is a significant empirical challenge. In this paper, we adapt tools from biochemical kinetics identify networks that exhibit ‘structural resilience’, strong form of solely property network structure independent model parameters. We undertake exhaustive search structural across all three‐species networks, under generalized Lotka‐Volterra modelling framework. Out 20,000 possible structures, approximately 2% display resilience. The properties these provide important insights into mechanisms could promote ecosystems, new theoretical avenues qualitative approaches foundation identifying robust forms large, realistic networks.

Language: Английский

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Ubiquity of inverted ’gelatinous’ ecosystem pyramids in the global ocean

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 12, 2024

Summary paragraph Plankton are essential in marine ecosystems. However, our knowledge of overall community structure is sparse due to inconsistent sampling across their very large organismal size range. Here we use diverse imaging methods establish complete plankton inventories organisms spanning five orders magnitude size. and trophic variation validate a long-held theoretical link between organism size-spectra ecosystem structures. We found that predator/grazer biomass biovolume unexpectedly exceed primary producers at most (55%) locations, likely better quantification gelatinous organisms. Bottom- heavy ecosystems (the norm on land) appear be rare the ocean. Collectively, represent 30% total (8-9% carbon) communities from tropical polar Communities can split into three extreme typologies: diatom/copepod-dominated eutrophic blooms, rhizarian/chaetognath-dominated oligotrophic oceans, gelatinous-dominated elsewhere. While taxonomic composition changes with latitude, functional structures mostly depend amount prey available for each level. Given future projections oligotrophication ecosystems, findings suggest rhizarian will increasingly dominate apex position planktonic leading significant ocean’s carbon cycle.

Language: Английский

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Thermal mismatches in biological rates determine trophic control and biomass distribution under warming

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 27(2), P. 257 - 269

Published: Oct. 21, 2020

Abstract Temperature has numerous effects on the structure and dynamics of ecological communities. Yet, there is no general trend or consensus magnitude directions these effects. To fill this gap, we propose a mechanistic framework based key biological rates that predicts how temperature influences biomass distribution trophic control in food webs. We show predictions arise from thermal mismatches between across levels. couple our theory with experimental data for wide range species find warming should lead to top‐heavier terrestrial chains stronger top‐down aquatic environments. then derive herbivory validate them stream grazers. Our study provides explanation consumer–resource systems which crucial better understand biogeography consequences global dynamics.

Language: Английский

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Network analysis suggests changes in food web stability produced by bottom trawl fishery in Patagonia

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: June 27, 2022

Demersal fisheries are one of the top anthropic stressors in marine environments. In long term, some species more vulnerable to fishery impacts than others, which can lead permanent changes on food web. The trophic relationships between predator and prey constitute web it represents a network energy channels an ecosystem. turn, structure influences ecosystem diversity stability. first aim this study was describe for time San Jorge Gulf (Patagonia Argentina) with high resolution, i.e. level when information is available. subject intense thus our second analyse without evaluate if bottom-trawl industrial altered We used several metrics like: mean level, omnivory, modularity quasi-sign included these because they related stability be evaluated using diets that weight links predators prey. presented 165 organized almost five levels. inclusion node adds 69 new links. All weighted unweighted showed differences two networks, reflecting decrease system. Thus, results suggested probable change state observed abundances since established, could represent predicted by analysis. Our suggests webs human activity ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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The trophic distribution of biomass in ecosystems with co-occurring wildlife and livestock

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Jan. 9, 2025

Abstract Trophic interactions regulate populations, but anthropogenic processes influence primary productivity and consumption by both herbivore carnivore species. ecology studies often focus on natural systems such as protected areas, even though livestock globally comprise the majority of terrestrial vertebrate biomass. Here we explore spatial temporal patterns in distribution biomass between plants, large herbivores carnivores (> 10 kg) Norwegian rangelands, including wildlife livestock. We find high variation relationship plant biomass, with positive negative divergence observed from expectations based productivity. Meanwhile, despite recent partial recoveries densities across Norway, is still lower than expected if are excluded estimation. Our study highlights how trends reflect policy development. The role husbandry management thus key determining realised distributions anthropogenically influenced ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Overexploitation counteracts top-down control and the paradox of enrichment in simple food chains.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 1, 2025

Abstract Overexploitation, the depletion of a resource by its consumer on short timescale, is widespread in nature but general implications for biomass control and community stability are not clear. Most approaches investigating interactions between trophic levels variations patterns or population dynamics generally ignore overexploitation. Here we use resource-plant-herbivore food chain model allowing overexploitation (i.e. plant can overexploit and/or herbivore plant). We uncover conditions under which either type occurs show that they qualitatively change ecological patterns, mainly suppressing top-down when interaction strength high. When productivity increases, suppressed above level starts to resources. Similarly, herbivory intensity disappear plants become overex-ploited. Overexploitation also prevents enrichment-driven destabilization capping energy fluxes community. These findings connect bottom-up controls single framework, highlight role play structuring stabilizing chains via modulation strengths.

Language: Английский

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Environmental Gradient Changes Shape Multi-Scale Food Web Structures: Impact on Antibiotics Trophic Transfer in a Lake Ecosystem

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 137965 - 137965

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Subsidy type and quality determine direction and strength of trophic cascades in arthropod food webs in agroecosystems

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 56(8), P. 1982 - 1991

Published: May 31, 2019

Abstract The subsidy hypothesis states that communities receiving nutrient subsidies will demonstrate top‐down trophic cascades where predators indirectly increase plant biomass. This has been both confirmed and refuted, which might depend on whether the mainly targeted or detrital food web compartment, quality. is particularly poorly understood for terrestrial such as heavily subsidized agroecosystems. Using cages covering 4 m 2 of ground in a long‐term agricultural fertilization experiment, we tested targeting soil mesofauna compartment with organic fertilizers, plants mineral fertilizer, impacted direction strength an arthropod–plant web. We expected controls generalist arthropod (spiders, rove beetles) aphid densities to be stronger organically fertilized plots due enhanced alternative prey availability soil. Bottom‐up control from barley quality aphids was anticipated treatments. examined how (decomposability) governed by comparing treatments labile (manure) recalcitrant (hay) matter. Top‐down forces dominated webs subsidies, while bottom‐up under fertilization. A high‐quality, easily degradable propagated faster through chain, leading cascade having positive effect biomass but not treatment. Synthesis applications . Management soils bolster mesofauna, example adding potential biological naturally occurring predators. Our research demonstrates can manure treatment presence level comparable fertilizer.

Language: Английский

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Cascading effects of moth outbreaks on subarctic soil food webs

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: July 23, 2021

Abstract The increasing severity and frequency of natural disturbances requires a better understanding their effects on all compartments biodiversity. In Northern Fennoscandia, recent large-scale moth outbreaks have led to an abrupt change in plant communities from birch forests dominated by dwarf shrubs grass-dominated systems. However, the indirect belowground compartment remained unclear. Here, we combined eDNA surveys multiple trophic groups with network analyses demonstrate that defoliation has far-reaching consequences soil food webs. Following this disturbance, diversity relative abundance certain declined (e.g., ectomycorrhizal fungi), while many others expanded bacterivores omnivores) making webs more diverse structurally different. Overall, direct increased at different levels. Our results highlight holistic view ecosystems improves our cascading major

Language: Английский

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Resource limitation determines realized thermal performance of consumers in trophodynamic models

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 25(10), P. 2142 - 2155

Published: Aug. 27, 2022

Recent work has demonstrated that changes in resource availability can alter a consumer's thermal performance curve (TPC). When resources decline, the optimal temperature and breadth of also leading to greater risk warming than predicted by static TPCs. We investigate effect on coupled consumer-resource dynamics, focusing potential for consumer TPC extinction risk. Coupling dynamics generally reduces decline exacerbate effects via due reduction top-down control when consumers near limits their curve. However, if are more sensitive warming, TPCs be reshaped declining resources, increased Our elucidates role bottom-up regulation determining extent which density

Language: Английский

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