Niche complementarity among plants and animals can alter the biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationship

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 37(10), P. 2652 - 2665

Published: Aug. 28, 2023

Abstract Species‐rich communities exhibit higher levels of ecosystem functioning compared with species‐poor ones, and this positive relationship strengthens over time. One proposed explanation for phenomenon is the reduction niche overlap among plants or animals, which corresponds to increased complementarity reduced competition. In order examine potential animals strengthen between diversity functions, we integrated models bio‐energetic population dynamics food‐web assembly. Through simulation various scenarios plant animal change, sought elucidate mechanisms underlying observed increases in (1) primary productivity, (2) control herbivores by predators (3) herbivore pressure on species‐rich communities. Our findings reveal that can steepen diversity–function relationships if it does not increase their intraspecific competition, while increasing during community assembly also have a effect but considerable variability. The study highlights importance trait variation both within species interplay intra‐ interspecific competition strength shaping ecosystems These results offer insights into underpinning diversity–functioning practical implications management conservation efforts. Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Emergent competition shapes top-down versus bottom-up control in multi-trophic ecosystems

PLoS Computational Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 20(2), P. e1011675 - e1011675

Published: Feb. 8, 2024

Ecosystems are commonly organized into trophic levels-organisms that occupy the same level in a food chain (e.g., plants, herbivores, carnivores). A fundamental question theoretical ecology is how interplay between structure, diversity, and competition shapes properties of ecosystems. To address this problem, we analyze generalized Consumer Resource Model with three levels using zero-temperature cavity method numerical simulations. We derive corresponding mean-field equations show intra-trophic diversity gives rise to an effective "emergent competition" term species within due feedbacks mediated by other levels. This emergent crossover from regime top-down control (populations limited predators) bottom-up primary producers) captured simple order parameter related ratio surviving different our results agree empirical observations, suggesting approach outlined here can be used understand complex ecosystems multiple

Language: Английский

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A simplified approach for assessing the effects of temperature change on the stability of consumer–resource interactions

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

Published: Feb. 10, 2025

Temperature regulates the physiology and behaviour of organisms. Thus, changing temperatures impact dynamics species interactions. Considering that consumer–resource interactions underpin ecological communities, impacts warming on stability have been extensively studied. However, a consensus among empirically determined warming–stability relationships clear understanding thereof are lacking. We investigate these systematically by developing simplified theoretical framework incorporates empirical data in three steps. define terms intrinsic oscillations to avoid comparing disparate notions, use one‐dimensional metric convert all empirically‐determined thermal dependence parametersiations into single function, directly compare data. The utilises Rosenzweig–MacArthur model with saturating consumer functional response, which has employed study warming‐stability is applied ectotherm pairs. find support for four different relationships: increases, decreases, hump‐shaped or U‐shaped increasing temperature. diversity relationships, though partly attributable context‐dependence, fundamentally caused two factors. First, relative sensitivities attack rate handling time and, second, scarcity evidence carrying capacity. former depends how processes measured, may not be consistent across studies. latter necessitates application assumptions, difficult verify, yet significant relationships. demonstrate aspects data, such as aforementioned factors range studied temperatures, can alter predicted stability. we illustrate our facilitates interactions, from producing concise overview predictions analysing causes deviation these.

Language: Английский

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Body Mass–Biomass Scaling Modulates Species Keystone‐Ness to Press Perturbations

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Identifying species with disproportionate effects on other under press perturbations is essential, yet how traits and community context drive their ‘keystone‐ness’ remain unclear. We quantified keystone‐ness as linearly approximated per capita net effect derived from normalised inverse matrices non‐linear biomass change simulated in food webs varying structure. In bottom‐heavy (negative relationship between species' body mass within the web), larger at higher trophic levels tended to be keystone species, whereas top‐heavy (positive relationship), opposite was true relationships energetic were weakened or reversed compared webs. Linear approximations aligned well responses webs, but less consistent These findings highlight importance of shaping informing effective conservation actions.

Language: Английский

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No need for niches in new ecology

Acta Oecologica, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 127, P. 104075 - 104075

Published: April 4, 2025

Language: Английский

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