Mark A. McPeek
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- May 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780691088778
- eISBN:
- 9781400888214
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691088778.001.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
This book develops a unified framework for understanding the structure of ecological community and the dynamics of natural selection that shape the evolution of the species inhabiting them. All ...
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This book develops a unified framework for understanding the structure of ecological community and the dynamics of natural selection that shape the evolution of the species inhabiting them. All species engage in interactions with many other species, and these interactions regulate their abundance, define their trajectories of natural selection, and shape their movement decisions. This book synthesizes the ecological and evolutionary dynamics generated by species interactions that structure local biological communities and regional metacommunities. The book explores the ecological performance characteristics needed for invasibility and coexistence of species in complex networks of species interactions. This species interaction framework is then extended to examine the ecological dynamics of natural selection that drive coevolution of interacting species in these complex interaction networks. The models of natural selection resulting from species interactions are used to evaluate the ecological conditions that foster diversification at multiple trophic levels. Analyses show that diversification depends on the ecological context in which species interactions occur and the types of traits that define the mechanisms of those species interactions. Lastly, looking at the mechanisms of speciation that affect species richness and diversity at various spatial scales and the consequences of past climate change over the Quaternary period, the book considers how metacommunity structure is shaped at regional and biogeographic scales. Integrating evolutionary theory into the study of community ecology, the book provides a new framework for predicting how communities are organized and how they may change over time.Less
This book develops a unified framework for understanding the structure of ecological community and the dynamics of natural selection that shape the evolution of the species inhabiting them. All species engage in interactions with many other species, and these interactions regulate their abundance, define their trajectories of natural selection, and shape their movement decisions. This book synthesizes the ecological and evolutionary dynamics generated by species interactions that structure local biological communities and regional metacommunities. The book explores the ecological performance characteristics needed for invasibility and coexistence of species in complex networks of species interactions. This species interaction framework is then extended to examine the ecological dynamics of natural selection that drive coevolution of interacting species in these complex interaction networks. The models of natural selection resulting from species interactions are used to evaluate the ecological conditions that foster diversification at multiple trophic levels. Analyses show that diversification depends on the ecological context in which species interactions occur and the types of traits that define the mechanisms of those species interactions. Lastly, looking at the mechanisms of speciation that affect species richness and diversity at various spatial scales and the consequences of past climate change over the Quaternary period, the book considers how metacommunity structure is shaped at regional and biogeographic scales. Integrating evolutionary theory into the study of community ecology, the book provides a new framework for predicting how communities are organized and how they may change over time.
Mark A. McPeek
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- May 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780691088778
- eISBN:
- 9781400888214
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691088778.003.0002
- Subject:
- Biology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
This chapter examines ecological opportunities that are available to species in various positions within a biological community, with particular emphasis on identifying the criteria necessary for an ...
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This chapter examines ecological opportunities that are available to species in various positions within a biological community, with particular emphasis on identifying the criteria necessary for an ecological opportunity to exist. Before discussing what performance capabilities a species must have to fill different types of ecological opportunities and what is required for invasibility of species into different functional positions in a community, the chapter considers the different frameworks that have been used to model species interactions. It then describes resource and apparent competition to show how resource availability from below and predation pressure from above can affect the types of species that can exploit specifc ecological opportunities. It also analyzes communities with three trophic levels, intraguild predation or omnivory, mutualism, the mechanisms that foster coexistence between one plant species and one pollinator species, and the case of one plant species with multiple pollinators.Less
This chapter examines ecological opportunities that are available to species in various positions within a biological community, with particular emphasis on identifying the criteria necessary for an ecological opportunity to exist. Before discussing what performance capabilities a species must have to fill different types of ecological opportunities and what is required for invasibility of species into different functional positions in a community, the chapter considers the different frameworks that have been used to model species interactions. It then describes resource and apparent competition to show how resource availability from below and predation pressure from above can affect the types of species that can exploit specifc ecological opportunities. It also analyzes communities with three trophic levels, intraguild predation or omnivory, mutualism, the mechanisms that foster coexistence between one plant species and one pollinator species, and the case of one plant species with multiple pollinators.
Mark A. McPeek
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- May 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780691088778
- eISBN:
- 9781400888214
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691088778.003.0007
- Subject:
- Biology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
This chapter discusses the important insights that can be gained from the synthetic analysis of evolution in communities. First, fitness, despite being commonly associated only with evolution by ...
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This chapter discusses the important insights that can be gained from the synthetic analysis of evolution in communities. First, fitness, despite being commonly associated only with evolution by natural selection, also plays a key role in both population and community ecology. Second, the same processes jointly drive the dynamics of species abundances and traits, and these dynamics can only be understood in the context of a community of interacting species. All combinations of abiotic factors and other species' abundances and traits that would permit a species to invade the community without any evolution are contained in the so-called ecological volume of invasibility, in contrast to an evolutionary volume of invasibility that defines the conditions for invasion or adaptation to occur. This chapter also considers speciation, disaggregation and recombination, the traits that influence species interactions, ecological differentiation of species, and the use of phylogeny to elucidate community assembly and structure.Less
This chapter discusses the important insights that can be gained from the synthetic analysis of evolution in communities. First, fitness, despite being commonly associated only with evolution by natural selection, also plays a key role in both population and community ecology. Second, the same processes jointly drive the dynamics of species abundances and traits, and these dynamics can only be understood in the context of a community of interacting species. All combinations of abiotic factors and other species' abundances and traits that would permit a species to invade the community without any evolution are contained in the so-called ecological volume of invasibility, in contrast to an evolutionary volume of invasibility that defines the conditions for invasion or adaptation to occur. This chapter also considers speciation, disaggregation and recombination, the traits that influence species interactions, ecological differentiation of species, and the use of phylogeny to elucidate community assembly and structure.
Cang Hui and David M. Richardson
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- March 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198745334
- eISBN:
- 9780191807046
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198745334.003.0010
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology, Biomathematics / Statistics and Data Analysis / Complexity Studies
Biological invasions have served as an excellent natural experiment, allowing us to explore how species sharpen their weaponries (invasiveness), how recipient ecosystems respond to the intrusion ...
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Biological invasions have served as an excellent natural experiment, allowing us to explore how species sharpen their weaponries (invasiveness), how recipient ecosystems respond to the intrusion (stability and invasibility), and how invaded ecosystems reorganize their structure (architecture). Previous chapters have discussed the emergence of invasion science as a flourishing transdisciplinary field of study. Significant conceptual and theoretical advances have been made, but to achieve a holistic view of biological invasion, a systems approach is needed. This chapter draws on insights from previous chapters and on progress in network science and complex adaptive systems to offer a fresh view of invasions. In so doing, we shift the understanding of invasion as a linear process, along the introduction–naturalization–invasion continuum, to an adaptive network concept of multiplayer games.Less
Biological invasions have served as an excellent natural experiment, allowing us to explore how species sharpen their weaponries (invasiveness), how recipient ecosystems respond to the intrusion (stability and invasibility), and how invaded ecosystems reorganize their structure (architecture). Previous chapters have discussed the emergence of invasion science as a flourishing transdisciplinary field of study. Significant conceptual and theoretical advances have been made, but to achieve a holistic view of biological invasion, a systems approach is needed. This chapter draws on insights from previous chapters and on progress in network science and complex adaptive systems to offer a fresh view of invasions. In so doing, we shift the understanding of invasion as a linear process, along the introduction–naturalization–invasion continuum, to an adaptive network concept of multiplayer games.
Gary G. Mittelbach and Brian J. McGill
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- September 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780198835851
- eISBN:
- 9780191873379
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198835851.003.0003
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology, Biodiversity / Conservation Biology
This chapter examines the relationship between biodiversity (most often measured as species richness) and the functioning of ecosystems. Examined in detail are the effects of biodiversity on: ...
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This chapter examines the relationship between biodiversity (most often measured as species richness) and the functioning of ecosystems. Examined in detail are the effects of biodiversity on: ecosystem productivity, nutrient use and nutrient retention, community and ecosystem stability, and invasibility by exotic species. A careful look, over two decades, at experimental results and meta-analyses confirms the positive impact of species richness on productivity, ecosystem stability, and nutrient retention. Thus, we can confidently conclude that biodiversity matters to the healthy functioning of ecosystems, although we do not yet know how many species are needed to ensure the successful functioning of any given ecosystem. The chapter concludes with a discussion of six important, but unanswered question in the study of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.Less
This chapter examines the relationship between biodiversity (most often measured as species richness) and the functioning of ecosystems. Examined in detail are the effects of biodiversity on: ecosystem productivity, nutrient use and nutrient retention, community and ecosystem stability, and invasibility by exotic species. A careful look, over two decades, at experimental results and meta-analyses confirms the positive impact of species richness on productivity, ecosystem stability, and nutrient retention. Thus, we can confidently conclude that biodiversity matters to the healthy functioning of ecosystems, although we do not yet know how many species are needed to ensure the successful functioning of any given ecosystem. The chapter concludes with a discussion of six important, but unanswered question in the study of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
