Scaling up our understanding of tipping points

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 377(1857)

Published: June 27, 2022

Anthropogenic activities are increasingly affecting ecosystems across the globe. Meanwhile, empirical and theoretical evidence suggest that natural systems can exhibit abrupt collapses in response to incremental increases stressors, sometimes with dramatic ecological economic consequences. These catastrophic shifts faster larger than expected from changes stressors happen once a tipping point is crossed. The primary mechanisms drive ecosystem responses perturbations lie their architecture of relationships, i.e. how species interact each other physical environment spatial structure environment. Nonetheless, existing work on has so far largely focused relatively simple have either few and/or no structure. This laid critical foundation for understanding possible, but it remains difficult predict (let alone manage) where or when they most likely occur more complex real-world settings. Here, we discuss scaling up our investigations complex—species rich spatially structured—systems could contribute expanding nature works improve ability anticipate effects global change systems. article part theme issue ‘Ecological complexity biosphere: next 30 years’.

Language: Английский

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An integrated conceptual model to characterize the effects of offshore wind farms on ecosystem services

Ecosystem Services, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 60, P. 101513 - 101513

Published: Feb. 8, 2023

Language: Английский

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Multidimensional responses of grassland stability to eutrophication

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Oct. 11, 2023

Abstract Eutrophication usually impacts grassland biodiversity, community composition, and biomass production, but its impact on the stability of these aspects is unclear. One challenge that has many facets can be tightly correlated (low dimensionality) or highly disparate (high dimensionality). Using standardized experiments in 55 sites from a globally distributed experiment (NutNet), we quantify effects nutrient addition five (temporal invariability, resistance during dry wet growing seasons, recovery after seasons), measured three (aboveground biomass, species richness). Nutrient reduces temporal invariability richness composition does not affect those biomass. Different measures are largely uncorrelated under both ambient eutrophic conditions, indicating consistently high dimensionality. Harnessing dimensionality ecological provides insights for predicting responses to global environmental change.

Language: Английский

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A unified framework for partitioning the drivers of stability of ecological communities

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(5)

Published: March 14, 2024

Abstract Aim Identifying the drivers of ecological stability is critical for ensuring maintenance ecosystem functioning and services, particularly in a changing world. Different mechanisms by which biological communities stabilize functions (i.e. “stabilizing effects”) have been proposed, yet with various theoretical expectations debated conclusions. Here we propose unified framework that aims at reconciling, combining, different approaches to reliably test strength three stabilizing effects on temporal constancy functions: (a) dominant species, (b) species asynchrony, (c) diversity. Innovation Compared existing developments approach allows, first time, disentangling these level individual communities. So far this was not possible, conclusions depended indirect tests comparative analyses across We also graphical representation relative contributions ternary plot, allowing us easily compare sampled contexts standardized space. Main Our study answers current need link concepts data analysis. The present development promises flexible deeper understanding stabilization biodiversity importance its components.

Language: Английский

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The multiple-mechanisms hypothesis of biodiversity–stability relationships

Basic and Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 79, P. 153 - 166

Published: July 20, 2024

Long-term research in grassland biodiversity experiments has provided empirical evidence that ecological and evolutionary processes are intertwined determining both biodiversity–ecosystem functioning (BEF) biodiversity–stability relationships. Focusing on plant diversity, we hypothesize multifunctional stability is highest high-diversity communities relationships increase over time due to a variety of forms complementarity including the interaction with other biota above below ground. We introduce multiple-mechanisms hypothesis suggesting it not an individual mechanism drives long-term effects ecosystem but several produce increasingly positive effects. The following six mechanisms important. Low-diversity accumulate more antagonists (1), use resources less efficiently have open, leaky nutrient cycles (2). Conversely, support greater diversity activity beneficial partners across trophic levels (3); diversify their traits space, within species, optimize temporal (intra- interannual) spatial (4), create stable microclimate (5), foster higher top-down control aboveground belowground herbivores by predators (6). In line observation different species play unique roles ecosystems dynamic multifaceted, particular contributing most performance diverse might differ functions, years, locations, environmental change scenarios. This indicates "between-context insurance" or "across-context complementarity" mechanisms. examples will be conducted test our hypotheses which inspire additional work.

Language: Английский

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