A process‐based metacommunity framework linking local and regional scale community ecology

Ecology Letters, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 23(9), С. 1314 - 1329

Опубликована: Июль 16, 2020

Abstract The metacommunity concept has the potential to integrate local and regional dynamics within a general community ecology framework. To this end, must move beyond discrete archetypes that have largely defined it (e.g. neutral vs. species sorting) better incorporate scale interactions coexistence mechanisms. Here, we present fundamental reconception of framework explicitly links theory spatial processes inherent theory, allowing for continuous range competitive dynamics. These emerge from three underlying shape ecological communities: (1) density‐independent responses abiotic conditions, (2) density‐dependent biotic (3) dispersal. Stochasticity is incorporated in demographic realisation each these processes. We formalise using simulation model explores wide by varying strength Using framework, show how existing theories, including traditional archetypes, are linked common set then use generate new hypotheses about combine interactively diversity, functioning stability metacommunities.

Язык: Английский

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Integrating the underlying structure of stochasticity into community ecology

Ecology, Год журнала: 2019, Номер 101(2)

Опубликована: Окт. 25, 2019

Abstract Stochasticity is a core component of ecology, as it underlies key processes that structure and create variability in nature. Despite its fundamental importance ecological systems, the concept often treated synonymous with unpredictability community studies tend to focus on single forms stochasticity rather than taking more holistic view. This has led multiple narratives for how mediates dynamics. Here, we present framework describes different (notably demographic environmental stochasticity) combine provide underlying predictable diverse communities. builds deep understanding stochastic acting at individual population levels modules few interacting species. We support our mathematical model use synthesize literature, demonstrating simple uncertainty. Rather, profound effects dynamics are critical diversity maintained. propose next steps ecologists might explore role structuring communities theoretical empirical thereby enhance

Язык: Английский

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Land‐use change and biodiversity: Challenges for assembling evidence on the greatest threat to nature

Global Change Biology, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 27(21), С. 5414 - 5429

Опубликована: Авг. 15, 2021

Land-use change is considered the greatest threat to nature, having caused worldwide declines in abundance, diversity, and health of species ecosystems. Despite increasing research on this global driver, there are still challenges forming an effective synthesis. The estimated impact land-use biodiversity can depend location, methods, taxonomic focus, with recent meta-analyses reaching disparate conclusions. Here, we critically appraise body our ability reach a reliable consensus. We employ named entity recognition analyze more than 4000 abstracts, alongside full reading 100 randomly selected papers. highlight broad range study designs methodologies used; most common being local space-for-time comparisons that classify land use situ. Species metrics including distribution, diversity were measured frequently complex responses such as demography, vital rates, behavior. identified biases, vertebrates well represented while detritivores largely missing. Omitting group may hinder understanding how affects ecosystem feedback. Research was heavily biased toward temperate forested biomes North America Europe, warmer regions acutely underrepresented despite offering potential insights into future effects under novel climates. Various histories covered, although understudied Africa Middle East required capture regional differences form current historical practices. Failure address these will impede impacts biodiversity, limit reliability projections have repercussions for conservation threatened species. Beyond identifying literature priorities data gaps need urgent attention offer perspectives move forward.

Язык: Английский

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Biodiversity conservation through the lens of metacommunity ecology

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 1469(1), С. 86 - 104

Опубликована: Май 14, 2020

Abstract Metacommunity ecology combines local (e.g., environmental filtering and biotic interactions) regional dispersal heterogeneity) processes to understand patterns of species abundance, occurrence, composition, diversity across scales space time. As such, it has a great potential generalize synthesize our understanding many ecological problems. Here, we give an overview how metacommunity perspective can provide useful insights for conservation biology, which aims mitigate the effects anthropogenic drivers that decrease population sizes, increase extinction probabilities, threaten biodiversity. We review four general processes—environmental filtering, interactions, dispersal, drift—and discuss key habitat loss fragmentation, nonnative species) alter these processes. next describe interest in metacommunities (abundance, occupancy, diversity) map onto issues at heart cases where biology benefits by taking scale‐explicit perspective. conclude with some ways forward including perspectives into ideas ecosystem functioning services, as well approaches management, preservation, restoration.

Язык: Английский

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The Causes and Consequences of Seed Dispersal

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 54(1), С. 403 - 427

Опубликована: Авг. 22, 2023

Seed dispersal, or the movement of diaspores away from parent location, is a multiscale, multipartner process that depends on interaction plant life history with vector and environment. dispersal underpins many important ecological evolutionary processes such as gene flow, population dynamics, range expansion, diversity. We review exciting new directions field seed ecology evolution has taken over past 40 years. provide an overview ultimate causes consequences this for community dynamics. also discuss several emergent unifying frameworks are being used to study describe how they can be integrated more mechanistic understanding dispersal.

Язык: Английский

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Altered litter stoichiometry drives energy dynamics of food webs through changing multiple facets of soil biodiversity

Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 191, С. 109331 - 109331

Опубликована: Янв. 24, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Interactions and Migration Rescuing Ecological Diversity

PRX Life, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 2(1)

Опубликована: Март 18, 2024

How diversity is maintained in natural ecosystems a long-standing question Theoretical Ecology. By studying system that combines ecological dynamics, heterogeneous interactions, and spatial structure, we uncover new mechanism for the survival of diversity-rich presence demographic fluctuations. For single species, one finds continuous phase transition between an extinction state, falls into universality class Directed Percolation. Here show case many species with interactions different richer. merging theory simulations, demonstrate sufficiently strong noise, exhibits behavior akin to single-species case, undergoing transition. Conversely, at low observe unique features indicative ecosystem's complexity. The combined effects heterogeneity interaction network migration enable community thrive, even situations where noise would lead isolated species. emergence mutualism induces development global bistability, accompanied by sudden tipping points. We present way predict catastrophic shift from high probing responses perturbations as early warning signal. Published American Physical Society 2024

Язык: Английский

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The internal structure of metacommunities

Oikos, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 2022(1)

Опубликована: Окт. 19, 2021

Current analyses of metacommunity data largely focus on global attributes across the entire metacommunity, such as mean alpha, beta, and gamma diversity, well partitioning compositional variation into single estimates contributions space environmental effects and, more recently, possible species interactions. However, this view neglects fact that different sites in landscape can vary widely how they contribute to these metacommunity‐wide attributes. We argue for a new conceptual framework with matched analytics goals studying complex interactive relations between process pattern metacommunities is focused among which we call ‘internal structure' metacommunity. To demonstrate internal structure could be studied, create synthetic using process‐based colonization–extinction model. then use joint distribution models estimate space, environment, biotic interactions driving assembly differ sites. find approach provides useful information about distinct ways structure. Although it has limitations, our work points at general understand other complexities might affect thus incorporated cohesive theory.

Язык: Английский

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A Science Agenda to Inform Natural Resource Management Decisions in an Era of Ecological Transformation

BioScience, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 72(1), С. 71 - 90

Опубликована: Сен. 8, 2021

Abstract Earth is experiencing widespread ecological transformation in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems that attributable to directional environmental changes, especially intensifying climate change. To better steward facing unprecedented lasting change, a new management paradigm forming, supported by decision-oriented framework presents three distinct choices: resist, accept, or direct the trajectory. make these choices strategically, managers seek understand nature of could occur if change accepted while identifying opportunities intervene resist In this article, we inspire research agenda for science focused on social based five central questions align with resist–accept–direct (RAD) framework. Development needed apply RAD support natural resource conservation our rapidly changing planet.

Язык: Английский

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Effects of stochasticity on the length and behaviour of ecological transients

Journal of The Royal Society Interface, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 18(180), С. 20210257 - 20210257

Опубликована: Июль 1, 2021

There is a growing recognition that ecological systems can spend extended periods of time far away from an asymptotic state, and understanding will therefore require deeper appreciation for how long transients arise. Recent work has defined classes deterministic mechanisms lead to transients. Given the ubiquity stochasticity in systems, similar systematic treatment includes influence important. Stochasticity course promote appearance transient dynamics by preventing settling permanently near their but also interacts with features create qualitatively new dynamics. As such, may shorten, extend or fundamentally change system’s Here, we describe general framework developing range possible outcomes when random processes impact over realistic scales. We emphasize understand ways which either reduce lifetime studying interactions between stochastic present, summarize both current state knowledge avenues future advances.

Язык: Английский

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