Effects of multiple stressors on the dimensionality of ecological stability

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 24(8), P. 1594 - 1606

Published: May 12, 2021

Ecological stability is a multidimensional construct. Investigating multiple dimensions key to understand how ecosystems respond disturbance. Here, we evaluated the single and combined effects of common agricultural stressors (insecticide, herbicide nutrients) on four (resistance, resilience, recovery invariability) overall dimensionality (DS) using results freshwater mesocosm experiment. Functional resilience pesticides were enhanced in nutrient-enriched systems, whereas compositional was generally not achieved. Pesticides did affect DS, functional DS significantly increased by insecticide only non-enriched systems. Stressor interactions acted non-additively as well DS. Moreover demonstrate that can modify correlation between aspects stability. Our study shows different disturbance types, their interactions, require specific management actions promote ecosystem

Language: Английский

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Spatial insurance against a heatwave differs between trophic levels in experimental aquatic communities

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(11), P. 3054 - 3071

Published: March 22, 2023

Climate change-related heatwaves are major threats to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. However, our current understanding of the mechanisms governing community resistance recovery from extreme temperature events is still rudimentary. The spatial insurance hypothesis postulates that diverse regional species pools can buffer functioning against local disturbances through immigration better-adapted taxa. Yet, experimental evidence for such predictions multi-trophic communities pulse-type disturbances, like heatwaves, largely missing. We performed an mesocosm study test whether dispersal natural lakes prior a simulated heatwave could increase plankton communities. As buffering effect may differ among trophic groups, we independently manipulated organisms lower (phytoplankton) higher (zooplankton) levels. suppressed total biomass by having strong negative on zooplankton biomass, probably due heat-induced in metabolic costs, resulting weaker top-down control phytoplankton. While did not alleviate effects phytoplankton enhanced at level primary producers, providing partial insurance. differential responses be linked much larger pool than zooplankton. Our results suggest high capacity independent dispersal. composition structure remained altered heatwave, implying longer-lasting changes

Language: Английский

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Thresholds and tipping points are tempting but not necessarily suitable concepts to address anthropogenic biodiversity change—an intervention

Marine Biodiversity, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 53(3)

Published: June 1, 2023

Abstract Thresholds and tipping points are frequently used concepts to address the risks of global change pressures their mitigation. It is tempting also consider them understand biodiversity design measures ensure biotic integrity. Here, we argue that thresholds do not work well in context for conceptual, ethical, empirical reasons. Defining a threshold (a maximum tolerable degree turnover or loss) neglects ecosystem multifunctionality often relies on complete entangled web species interactions invokes ethical issue declaring some dispensable. Alternatively defining might seem more straightforward as it addresses causes change. However, most appears be gradual accumulating over time rather than reflecting disproportionate when transgressing pressure threshold. Moreover, synchrony with environmental change, but massively delayed through inertia inflicted by population dynamics demography. In consequence, formulating management targets preventing transgression less useful such neither capture how responds anthropogenic nor links functioning. Instead, addressing requires spatiotemporal complexity altered local community temporal composition leading shifts distributional ranges interactions.

Language: Английский

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Diversity–stability relationships across organism groups and ecosystem types become decoupled across spatial scales

Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 104(9)

Published: July 4, 2023

The relationship between biodiversity and stability, or its inverse, temporal variability, is multidimensional complex. Temporal variability in aggregate properties, like total biomass abundance, typically lower communities with higher species diversity (i.e., the diversity-stability [DSR]). At broader spatial extents, regional-scale also regional (in plant systems) synchrony. However, focusing exclusively on properties of may overlook potentially destabilizing compositional shifts. It not yet clear how related to different components across scales, nor whether DSRs emerge a broad range organisms ecosystem types. To test these questions, we compiled large collection long-term metacommunity data spanning wide taxonomic groups (e.g., birds, fish, plants, invertebrates) types deserts, forests, oceans). We applied newly developed quantitative framework for jointly analyzing scales. quantified composition local metacommunities. scale, more diverse were less variable, but this effect was stronger than properties. found no stabilizing γ-diversity β-diversity played strong role reducing synchrony, which reduced variability. Spatial synchrony differed among taxa, suggesting differences stabilization by processes. strongly driven Across our results suggest that high does consistently stabilize at scales without sufficient reduce

Language: Английский

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Disturbance theory for ecosystem ecologists: A primer

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(6)

Published: May 30, 2024

Abstract Understanding what regulates ecosystem functional responses to disturbance is essential in this era of global change. However, many pioneering and still influential disturbance‐related theorie proposed by ecologists were developed prior rapid change, before tools metrics available test them. In light new knowledge conceptual advances across biological disciplines, we present four ecology concepts that are particularly relevant the field: (a) directionality response disturbance; (b) thresholds; (c) disturbance–succession interactions; (d) diversity‐functional stability relationships. We discuss how knowledge, theory, terminology several when integrated, can enhance analyze interpret disturbance. For example, interpreting thresholds interactions, should consider concurrent biotic regime non‐linearity, multiple pathways, typically theoretical analytical domain population community ecologists. Similarly, interpretation requires approaches recognize promote, inhibit, or fundamentally change functions. suggest truly integrative advancing

Language: Английский

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