EFFECTS OF BIODIVERSITY ON ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING: A CONSENSUS OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE

Ecological Monographs, Год журнала: 2005, Номер 75(1), С. 3 - 35

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2005

Humans are altering the composition of biological communities through a variety activities that increase rates species invasions and extinctions, at all scales, from local to global. These changes in components Earth's biodiversity cause concern for ethical aesthetic reasons, but they also have strong potential alter ecosystem properties goods services provide humanity. Ecological experiments, observations, theoretical developments show depend greatly on terms functional characteristics organisms present distribution abundance those over space time. Species effects act concert with climate, resource availability, disturbance regimes influencing properties. Human can modify above factors; here we focus modification these biotic controls. The scientific community has come broad consensus many aspects relationship between functioning, including points relevant management ecosystems. Further progress will require integration knowledge about abiotic controls properties, how ecological structured, forces driving extinctions invasions. To strengthen links policy management, need integrate our understanding social economic constraints practices. Understanding this complexity, while taking steps minimize current losses species, is necessary responsible ecosystems diverse biota contain. Based review literature, certain following conclusions: 1) Species' strongly influence Functional operate contexts, dominant keystone engineers, interactions among (e.g., competition, facilitation, mutualism, disease, predation). Relative alone not always good predictor ecosystem-level importance as even relatively rare predator) pathways energy material flows. 2) Alteration via caused by human altered well-documented cases. Many difficult, expensive, or impossible reverse fix technological solutions. 3) loss composition, mechanisms which manifest themselves, differ types, change. 4) Some initially insensitive because (a) may multiple carry out similar roles, (b) some contribute little (c) be primarily controlled environmental conditions. 5) More needed insure stable supply spatial temporal variability increases, typically occurs longer time periods larger areas considered. We high confidence Certain combinations complementary their patterns use average productivity nutrient retention. At same time, conditions complementarity structuring communities. Identification way complex just beginning. Susceptibility invasion exotic influenced and, under conditions, generally decreases increasing richness. However, several other factors, such propagule pressure, regime, availability success often override richness comparisons across different sites Having range respond differently perturbations stabilize process response disturbances variation Using practices maintain diversity effect types help preserve options. Uncertainties remain further research areas: resolution relationships taxonomic diversity, structure important identifying effects. Multiple trophic levels common been understudied biodiversity/ecosystem functioning research. varying consumer much more than responses seen experiments vary only primary producers. Theoretical work stability outpaced experimental work, especially field long-term able assess stability, well recovery disturbances. Design analysis must account factors covary diversity. Because both responds influences feedbacks involved results broader scales. Likely extinction linked drivers global change, communities, development effective conservation strategies. This paper focuses terrestrial systems, coverage freshwater where most empirical study focused. While fundamental principles described should apply marine realm necessary. Despite uncertainties circumstances incorporating into essential, making decisions involving large Sacrificing difficult reconstruct, simply yet extent affect restrict future options further. It incumbent upon ecologists communicate need, values derive perspective, charged decision-making.

Язык: Английский

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Predictive habitat distribution models in ecology

Ecological Modelling, Год журнала: 2000, Номер 135(2-3), С. 147 - 186

Опубликована: Дек. 1, 2000

Язык: Английский

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Mechanisms of Maintenance of Species Diversity

Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, Год журнала: 2000, Номер 31(1), С. 343 - 366

Опубликована: Ноя. 1, 2000

▪ Abstract The focus of most ideas on diversity maintenance is species coexistence, which may be stable or unstable. Stable coexistence can quantified by the long-term rates at community members recover from low density. Quantification shows that mechanisms function in two major ways: They (a) equalizing because they tend to minimize average fitness differences between species, (b) stabilizing increase negative intraspecific interactions relative interspecific interactions. Stabilizing are essential for and include traditional such as resource partitioning frequency-dependent predation, well depend fluctuations population densities environmental factors space time. Equalizing contribute reduce large inequalities might negate effects mechanisms. Models unstable coexitence, slowly decays over time, have focused almost exclusively These models would more robust if also included mechanisms, arise many varied ways but need not adequate full stability a system. invite broader view incorporating turnover.

Язык: Английский

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Predicting species distribution: offering more than simple habitat models

Ecology Letters, Год журнала: 2005, Номер 8(9), С. 993 - 1009

Опубликована: Авг. 15, 2005

In the last two decades, interest in species distribution models (SDMs) of plants and animals has grown dramatically. Recent advances SDMs allow us to potentially forecast anthropogenic effects on patterns biodiversity at different spatial scales. However, some limitations still preclude use many theoretical practical applications. Here, we provide an overview recent this field, discuss ecological principles assumptions underpinning SDMs, highlight critical decisions inherent construction evaluation SDMs. Particular emphasis is given for assessment climate change impacts conservation management issues. We suggest new avenues incorporating migration, population dynamics, biotic interactions community ecology into multiple Addressing all these issues requires a better integration with theory.

Язык: Английский

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Predicting the impacts of climate change on the distribution of species: are bioclimate envelope models useful?

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Год журнала: 2003, Номер 12(5), С. 361 - 371

Опубликована: Авг. 21, 2003

ABSTRACT Modelling strategies for predicting the potential impacts of climate change on natural distribution species have often focused characterization a species’ bioclimate envelope. A number recent critiques questioned validity this approach by pointing to many factors other than that play an important part in determining distributions and dynamics changes. Such include biotic interactions, evolutionary dispersal ability. This paper reviews evaluates criticisms envelope models discusses implications these different modelling employed. It is proposed that, although complexity system presents fundamental limits predictive modelling, can provide useful first approximation as potentially dramatic impact biodiversity. However, it stressed spatial scale at which are applied importance, model results should not be interpreted without due consideration limitations involved. hierarchical framework through some addressed within broader, scale‐dependent context.

Язык: Английский

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Grinnellian and Eltonian niches and geographic distributions of species

Ecology Letters, Год журнала: 2007, Номер 10(12), С. 1115 - 1123

Опубликована: Сен. 10, 2007

In the recent past, availability of large data sets species presences has increased by orders magnitude. This, together with developments in geographical information systems and statistical methods, enabled scientists to calculate, for thousands species, environmental conditions their distributional areas. The profiles thus obtained are obviously related niche concepts Grinnell tradition, separated from those Elton's tradition. I argue that it is useful define Grinnellian Eltonian niches on basis types variables used calculate them, natural spatial scale at which they can be measured, dispersal individuals over environment. use set theory notation analogies derived population ecology obtain formal definitions areas distribution several niches. This brings clarity practical fundamental questions macroecology biogeography.

Язык: Английский

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CAN STABLE ISOTOPE RATIOS PROVIDE FOR COMMUNITY-WIDE MEASURES OF TROPHIC STRUCTURE?

Ecology, Год журнала: 2007, Номер 88(1), С. 42 - 48

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2007

Stable isotope ratios (typically of carbon and nitrogen) provide one representation an organism's trophic niche are widely used to examine aspects food web structure. Yet stable isotopes have not been applied quantitatively characterize community-wide structure (i.e., at the level entire web). We propose quantitative metrics that can be this end, drawing on similar approaches from ecomorphology research. For example, convex hull area occupied by species in δ13C–δ15N space is a total extent diversity within web, whereas mean nearest neighbor distance among all pairs measure packing space. To facilitate discussion opportunities limitations metrics, we empirical conceptual examples drawn Bahamian tidal creek webs. These illustrate how methodology quantify redundancy webs, as well link individual characteristics which they embedded. Building extensive applications ecologists, may new perspective structure, function, dynamics.

Язык: Английский

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Historical Contingency in Community Assembly: Integrating Niches, Species Pools, and Priority Effects

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Год журнала: 2015, Номер 46(1), С. 1 - 23

Опубликована: Авг. 5, 2015

The order and timing of species immigration during community assembly can affect abundances at multiple spatial scales. Known as priority effects, these effects cause historical contingency in the structure function communities, resulting alternative stable states, transient or compositional cycles. mechanisms fall into two categories, niche preemption modification, conditions for by be organized groups, those regarding regional pool properties local population dynamics. Specifically, requirements must satisfied to occur: contains that together dynamics are rapid enough early-arriving preempt modify niches before other arrive. Organizing current knowledge this way reveals an outstanding key question: How pools yield generated maintained?

Язык: Английский

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Disentangling the importance of ecological niches from stochastic processes across scales

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2011, Номер 366(1576), С. 2351 - 2363

Опубликована: Июль 18, 2011

Deterministic theories in community ecology suggest that local, niche-based processes, such as environmental filtering, biotic interactions and interspecific trade-offs largely determine patterns of species diversity composition. In contrast, more stochastic emphasize the importance chance colonization, random extinction ecological drift. The schisms between deterministic perspectives, which date back to earliest days ecology, continue fuel contemporary debates (e.g. niches versus neutrality). As illustrated by pioneering studies Robert H. MacArthur co-workers, resolution these requires consideration how local processes changes across scales. Here, we develop a framework for disentangling relative generating site-to-site variation composition (β-diversity) along gradients (disturbance, productivity interactions) among biogeographic regions differ size regional pool. We illustrate discern using null-model approaches explicitly account factors inherently create turnover. By embracing scales, can build synthetic understanding structure biodiversity face emerge from factors.

Язык: Английский

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On the relationship between niche and distribution

Ecology Letters, Год журнала: 2000, Номер 3(4), С. 349 - 361

Опубликована: Июль 1, 2000

Applications of Hutchinson’s n ‐dimensional niche concept are often focused on the role interspecific competition in shaping species distribution patterns. In this paper, I discuss a variety factors, addition to competition, that influence observed relationship between and availability suitable habitat. particular, show can be modified incorporate influences width, habitat dispersal, as well per se . introduce simulation model called NICHE embodies many original concepts use predict patterns distribution. The may help clarify how size interact, under what conditions might common unsuitable or absent from A brief review pertinent literature suggests present habitat, ways predicted by theory. However, most tests theory hampered inadequate consideration does not constitute More conclusive evidence for these predictions will require rigorous determination suitability field conditions. suggest do this, ecologists must measure specific demography quantify demographic parameters vary response temporal spatial variation measurable dimensions.

Язык: Английский

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