Disentangling temporal food web dynamics facilitates understanding of ecosystem functioning

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 90(5), P. 1205 - 1216

Published: Feb. 20, 2021

Studying how food web structure and function vary through time represents an opportunity to better comprehend anticipate ecosystem changes. Yet, temporal studies of highly resolved are scarce. With few exceptions, most either too simplified, preventing a detailed assessment structural properties or binary, missing the dynamics energy fluxes among species. Using long-term, multi-trophic biomass data coupled with information on species feeding relationships, we analysed in Gulf Riga (Baltic Sea) over more than three decades (1981-2014). We combined unweighted (topology-based) weighted (biomass- flux-based) approaches, first, unravel distinct descriptors can highlight differences (or similarities) time, second, compare function. find that substantially distinctively likely reflecting different underlying processes. While node- link-weighted metrics reflect changes related alterations dominance fluxes, sensitive link richness. Comparing unweighted, topology-based flux-based functions further indicates cannot be predicted using structure. Rather, population weighted, networks should included dynamics. By integrating metrics, here demonstrate approaches used function, identify complementary patterns change dynamics, which enables complete understanding ecological processes at play ecosystems undergoing change.

Language: Английский

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A Critical Evaluation of Network Approaches for Studying Species Interactions

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 55(1), P. 65 - 88

Published: July 26, 2024

Ecological networks of species interactions are popular and provide powerful analytical tools for understanding variation in community structure ecosystem functioning. However, network analyses commonly used metrics such as nestedness connectance have also attracted criticism. One major concern is that observed patterns misinterpreted niche properties specialization, whereas they may instead merely reflect sampling, abundance, and/or diversity. As a result, studies potentially draw flawed conclusions about ecological function, stability, or coextinction risks. We highlight potential biases analyzing interpreting species-interaction review the solutions available to overcome them, among which we particularly recommend use null models account abundances. show why considering across important their consequences. Network can advance knowledge on principles but only when judiciously applied.

Language: Английский

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Pollinator competition and the structure of floral resources

Ecography, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 2023(9)

Published: July 10, 2023

The mutualism between plants and pollinators is built upon the trophic ecology of flowers florivores. Yet flowers‐as‐food left implicit in most studies plant–pollinator ecology, it has been largely neglected mainstream ecology. This deficit especially evident an emerging issue basic applied significance: competition for floral resources. In this synthesis, we start by exploring notion resource limitation which concerning are tacitly predicated. Both theoretical empirical lines evidence indicate that must be understood as a complex ecological contingency; question not simply whether but when, where what regions trait space resources limiting. Based on premise, propose framework understanding availability terms temporal, spatial functional structure. While conceptually intuitive, empirically analytically demanding. We review existing methods measuring summarizing multi‐dimensional structure resources, highlight their strengths weaknesses, identify opportunities future development. then discuss causal relationships linking to species coexistence, community dynamics, exogenous drivers like climate, land use, episodic disturbances. its role both cause effect, mediates relationship behavioral landscape coexistence theory with respect Establishing object study application will shed light questions guide management decisions contentious issues such compatibility apiculture wild pollinator conservation appropriate use enhancements agri‐environment schemes.

Language: Английский

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Cathemerality: a key temporal niche

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 99(2), P. 329 - 347

Published: Oct. 15, 2023

ABSTRACT Given the marked variation in abiotic and biotic conditions between day night, many species specialise their physical activity to being diurnal or nocturnal, it was long thought that these strategies were commonly fairly fixed invariant. The term ‘cathemeral’, coined 1987, when Tattersall noted a Madagascan primate during hours of both daylight darkness. Initially be rare, cathemerality is now known quite widespread form time partitioning amongst arthropods, fish, birds, mammals. Herein we provide synthesis present understanding cathemeral behaviour, arguing should routinely included alongside nocturnal schemes distinguish categorise across taxa according temporal niche. This particularly timely because ( i ) study animal patterns revolutionised by new improved technologies; ii becoming apparent covers diverse range obligate facultative forms, each with own common sets functional traits, geographic ranges evolutionary history; iii daytime nighttime likely plays an important but currently neglected role niche ecosystem functioning; iv may have ability adapt human‐mediated pressures.

Language: Английский

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Anthropogenic changes to the nighttime environment

BioScience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 73(4), P. 280 - 290

Published: April 1, 2023

How the relative impacts of anthropogenic pressures on natural environment vary between different taxonomic groups, habitats, and geographic regions is increasingly well established. By contrast, times day at which those are most forcefully exerted or have greatest influence not understood. The impact nighttime bears particular scrutiny, given that for practical reasons (e.g., researchers themselves belong to a diurnal species), studies conducted during daytime organisms predominantly active in ways do differentiate nighttime. In present article, we synthesize current state knowledge environment, highlighting key findings examples. evidence available suggests under intense stress across increasing areas world, especially from pollution, climate change, overexploitation resources.

Language: Английский

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Dissimilarity of species interaction networks: how to partition rewiring and species turnover components

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12(7)

Published: July 1, 2021

Abstract Describing variation of species interaction networks across space and time promises a better understanding how communities respond to global change. To understand this variation, it has been suggested partition network dissimilarity into one component driven by turnover, that is, changes in community composition, another reflecting rewiring, flexibility interactions among shared species. The latter makes strong case for investing the enormous effort empirically recording interactions, instead simply building based on data. Here, I present flexible R function (available package bipartite) calculate its components, with binary quantitative networks. With new tool, compare two published methods partitioning dissimilarity, using conceptual examples, plant–pollinator networks, set simulations. This comparison highlights method received most attention overestimates importance rewiring total dissimilarity. In contrast, an earlier‐proposed is derived from additive sets thus accurately represents components. Furthermore, argue term not well defined ecology there are reasons why both overestimate particular availability unified multiple aspects will foster critical application characterize dynamics identify underlying drivers. Studies have be more careful choice interpretation.

Language: Английский

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Differences in prey availability across space and time lead to interaction rewiring and reshape a predator–prey metaweb

Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 103(8)

Published: April 7, 2022

Space and time promote variation in network structure by affecting the likelihood of potential interactions. However, little is known about relative roles ecological biogeographical processes determining how species interactions vary across space time. Here we study spatiotemporal predator-prey interaction networks formed anurans arthropods test for effects prey availability patterns, information that often absent limits understanding determinants structure. We found dissimilarity between ecoregions seasons was high primarily driven rewiring.We also turnover positively related to geographical distance. Using a null model approach disentangle effect on spatial temporal variation, show differences were important among areas. Our reveals fluctuations abundance, alongside limited dispersal abilities their prey, may be responsible patterns emerged our metaweb. These findings contribute assembly rules maintain biotic metacommunities highlight importance these systems.

Language: Английский

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Plant–pollinator network change across a century in the subarctic

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 7(1), P. 102 - 112

Published: Jan. 2, 2023

Language: Английский

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Non‐random interactions within and across guilds shape the potential to coexist in multi‐trophic ecological communities

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(6), P. 831 - 842

Published: March 27, 2023

Theory posits that the persistence of species in ecological communities is shaped by their interactions within and across trophic guilds. However, we lack empirical evaluations how structure, strength sign biotic drive potential to coexist diverse multi-trophic communities. Here, model community feasibility domains, a theoretically informed measure multi-species coexistence probability, from grassland comprising more than 45 on average three guilds (plants, pollinators herbivores). Contrary our hypothesis, increasing complexity, measured either as number or richness, did not decrease feasibility. Rather, observed high degrees self-regulation niche partitioning allow for maintaining larger levels higher Our results show are random nature both structures significantly contribute diversity.

Language: Английский

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Shortcomings of reusing species interaction networks created by different sets of researchers

PLoS Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 21(4), P. e3002068 - e3002068

Published: April 3, 2023

Given the requisite cost associated with observing species interactions, ecologists often reuse interaction networks created by different sets of researchers to test their hypotheses regarding how ecological processes drive network topology. Yet, topological properties identified across these may not be sufficiently attributable alone as assumed. Instead, much totality differences between networks-topological heterogeneity-could due variations in research designs and approaches that use create each network. To evaluate degree which this heterogeneity is present available networks, we first compared amount 723 quantified from non-ecological known constructed following more consistent approaches. Then, further whether was study designs, only inherent variation within same (i.e., publication) were a unique publication source. We found are highly topologically heterogeneous: while similar other than publication, they still show at least twice any category tested. Altogether, our findings suggest extra care necessary effectively analyze researchers, perhaps controlling for source

Language: Английский

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