Priority effects transcend scales and disciplines in biology

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(7), P. 677 - 688

Published: March 19, 2024

Language: Английский

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Improve Niche Colonization and Microbial Interactions for Organohalide-Respiring-Bacteria-Mediated Remediation of Chloroethene-Contaminated Sites

Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 57(45), P. 17338 - 17352

Published: Oct. 30, 2023

Organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB)-mediated reductive dehalogenation is promising in situ bioremediation of chloroethene-contaminated sites. The efficiency this approach largely determined by the successful colonization fastidious OHRB, which highly dependent on presence proper growth niches and microbial interactions. In study, based two ecological principles (i.e., Priority Effects Coexistence Theory), three strategies were developed to enhance niche tested both laboratory experiments field applications: (i) preinoculation a niche-preparing culture (NPC, being mainly constituted fermenting methanogens); (ii) staggered fermentation; (iii) increased inoculation CE40 (a Dehalococcoides-containing tetrachloroethene-to-ethene dechlorinating enrichment culture). Batch experimental results show significantly higher dechlorination efficiencies, as well lower concentrations volatile fatty acids (VFAs) methane, sets with fermentation niche-preconditioning NPC for 4 days (CE40_NPC-4) relative control sets. Accordingly, comparatively abundance Dehalococcoides major together methanogens, was observed CE40_NPC-4 fermentation, indicated balanced syntrophic competitive interactions between OHRB other populations efficient dechlorination. Further source tracking analyses suggested enhanced increasing ratio CE40. optimized conditions successfully employed trichloroethene (TCE, 0.3-1.4 mM)- vinyl chloride (VC, ∼0.04 mM)-contaminated sites, resulting 96.6% TCE 99.7% VC ethene within 5 3 months, respectively. This study provides principles-guided may be also removal emerging organohalide pollutants.

Language: Английский

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Widespread analytical pitfalls in empirical coexistence studies and a checklist for improving their statistical robustness

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(4), P. 594 - 611

Published: Feb. 28, 2024

Abstract Modern coexistence theory (MCT) offers a conceptually straightforward approach for connecting empirical observations with an elegant theoretical framework, gaining popularity rapidly over the past decade. However, beneath this surface‐level simplicity lie various assumptions and subjective choices made during data analysis. These can lead researchers to draw qualitatively different conclusions from same set of experiments. As predictions MCT studies are often treated as outcomes, many readers reviewers may not be familiar framework's assumptions, there is particular risk ‘researcher degrees freedom’ inflating confidence in results, thereby affecting reproducibility predictive power. To tackle these concerns, we introduce checklist consisting statistical best practices promote more robust applications MCT. Our recommendations organised into four categories: presentation sharing raw data, testing model fits, managing uncertainty associated coefficients incorporating predictions. We surveyed published 15 years discovered high degree variation level rigour adherence practices. present case illustrate dependence results on seemingly innocuous among competition structure error distributions, which some cases reversed predicted outcomes. demonstrate how analytical approaches profoundly alter interpretation experimental underscoring importance carefully considering thoroughly justifying each step taken analysis pathway. serves resource authors alike, providing guidance strengthen foundation analyses. field shifts descriptive, trailblazing phase stage consolidation, emphasise need caution when building upon findings earlier studies. ensure that progress ecological based reliable evidence, it crucial subject our predictions, generalisability rigorous assessment than currently trend.

Language: Английский

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Bridging theory and experiments of priority effects

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(12), P. 1203 - 1216

Published: Aug. 24, 2023

Language: Английский

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Priority Effects Determine How Dispersal Affects Biodiversity in Seasonal Metacommunities

The American Naturalist, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 202(2), P. 140 - 151

Published: March 20, 2023

The arrival order of species frequently determines the outcome their interactions. This phenomenon, called priority effect, is ubiquitous in nature and local community structure, but we know surprisingly little about how it influences biodiversity across different spatial scales. Here, use a seasonal metacommunity model to show that patterns homogenizing effect high dispersal depend on specific mechanisms underlying effects. When effects are driven only by positive frequency dependence, dispersal-diversity relationships sensitive initial conditions generally hump-shaped relationship: declines when rates become allow dominant competitor exclude other patches. spatiotemporal variation phenological differences alters species' interaction strengths (trait-dependent effects), local, regional, temporal diversity insensitive dispersal, regardless numeric advantage. Thus, trait-dependent can strongly reduce biodiversity, preventing homogenization metacommunities. Our results suggest an alternative mechanism maintains regional without environmental heterogeneity, highlighting accounting for fundamental understanding biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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Time‐dependent interaction modification generated from plant–soil feedback

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(5)

Published: May 1, 2024

Abstract Pairwise interactions between species can be modified by other community members, leading to emergent dynamics contingent on composition. Despite the prevalence of such higher‐order interactions, little is known about how they are linked timing and order species' arrival. We generate population from a mechanistic plant–soil feedback model, then apply general theoretical framework show that modification pairwise interaction third plant depends its germination phenology. These time‐dependent modifications emerge concurrent changes in microbe populations strengthened higher overlap plants' associated microbiomes. The this specificity microbiomes further determines coexistence. Our widely applicable mechanisms systems which similar emerge, highlighting need integrate temporal shifts predict natural communities.

Language: Английский

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Coinfection accelerates transmission to new hosts despite no effects on virulence and parasite growth

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 379(1907)

Published: June 24, 2024

One of the fundamental aims ecological, epidemiological and evolutionary studies host–parasite interactions is to unravel which factors affect parasite virulence. Theory predicts that virulence transmission are correlated by a trade-off, as too much expected hamper owing excessive host damage. Coinfections may each these traits and/or their correlation. Here, we used inbred lines spider mite Tetranychus urticae test how coinfection with T. evansi impacted virulence–transmission relationships at different conspecific densities. The presence on shared did not change relationship between (leaf damage) number transmitting stages (i.e. adult daughters). was hump-shaped across densities, both in single coinfections, corresponds trade-off. Moreover, adjacent hosts increased coinfection, but only low Finally, tested whether daughters were measures hosts, coinfections Traits mostly independent, meaning interspecific competitors increase without affecting Thus, impact epidemiology trait evolution, necessarily This article part theme issue ‘Diversity-dependence dispersal: determine spatial dynamics’.

Language: Английский

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The assembly and dynamics of ecological communities in an ever‐changing world

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 30, 2024

Abstract Alternative perspectives on the maintenance of biodiversity and assembly ecological communities suggest that both processes cannot be investigated simultaneously. In this concept synthesis, we challenge view by presenting major theoretical advances in structural stability permanence theory. These advances, which provide complementary views, allow studying short‐ long‐term dynamics as changes species richness, composition, abundance. Here, global attractor, technically named informational structure (IS), is central element to construct from information species' intrinsic growth rates their strength sign interactions. The attractor has four main properties: (1) It contains all limits what feasible unfeasible dynamical behavior an system, therefore, (2) it provides a thorough characterization combinations richness composition can coexist (i.e., stable equilibrium), (3) well connections (paths) between coexisting communities. Importantly, (4) such topology when environmental (abiotic biotic) variation affects ability grow interact with others. Overall, these properties switching traditional evaluation coexistence at equilibrium much more realistic nonequilibrium perspective where underlie transient dynamics. Several fields ecology benefit study IS. For instance, serve evaluate community responses after end perturbation, design restoration trajectories, consequences biological invasions persistence native within communities, or assess ecosystem health status. We illustrate latter possibility empirical observations 7 years Mediterranean annual grasslands. document extremely wet dry generate ISs supporting few paths. remaining distinguish winners losers ongoing climate change indicate future opportunities. A fully tractable operational framework readily available understand predict ever‐changing world.

Language: Английский

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Understanding the joint evolution of dispersal and host specialisation using phytophagous arthropods as a model group

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 99(1), P. 219 - 237

Published: Sept. 19, 2023

ABSTRACT Theory generally predicts that host specialisation and dispersal should evolve jointly. Indeed, many models predict specialists be poor dispersers to avoid landing on unsuitable hosts while generalists will have high abilities. Phytophagous arthropods are an excellent group test this prediction, given extensive variation in their range Here, we explore the degree which empirical literature is accordance with theoretical predictions. We first briefly outline reasons expect such a correlation. then report studies measured both of phytophagous arthropods. find correlation between levels some studies, but wide result. review attributes species environment may blur correlation, namely environmental grain, temporal heterogeneity, habitat selection, genetic architecture, coevolution plants herbivores. argue fail account for important aspects, as phenotypic plasticity impact selective forces stemming from other biotic interactions, specialisation. Next, caveats study interplay. use different measures specialisation, hampering comparisons. Moreover, several do not provide independent these two traits. Finally, traits occur at scales being considered. conclude likely expected large‐scale comparative analyses it highly context dependent considered isolation factors modulate it, scale intrinsic or interactions. A stronger crosstalk needed understand better prevalence basis

Language: Английский

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Interspecific interactions among parasites in multiple infections

Trends in Parasitology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 40(11), P. 1042 - 1052

Published: Oct. 19, 2024

Language: Английский

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