All Species are not equal: Individual species provide multifaceted contributions to the stability of ecosystems
Relationships between species diversity and ecological stability have puzzled ecologists for decades. We conducted a field experiment, simulating local species extinction, to quantify how individual species contribute to the stability of rocky shore communities.
There is widespread evidence to show that biodiversity loss leads to declines in the functioning and stability of ecosystems. Yet, predicting the consequences of individual species loss remains a fundamental challenge in ecology. The ability to partition species contributions to ecosystem productivity has greatly benefitted research on relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. We developed an analogous framework for multiple dimensions of ecological stability.
Our aim was to develop an experimental framework that would improve our understanding of the frequently disparate relationships between biodiversity and stability observed in both models and experiments. Because of the multidimensional nature of ecological stability, we designed a framework that could incorporate multiple aspects of stability simultaneously, capturing the dynamics of the system and its response to perturbations. Using stainless steel cages, we experimentally excluded different grazer species from rock pools and periodically surveyed the communities to monitor their stability following a subsequent experimentally-induced pulse perturbation.
Nature Research Ecology & Evolution Community
Relationships between species diversity and ecological stability have puzzled ecologists for decades. We conducted a field experiment, simulating local species extinction, to quantify how individual species contribute to the stability of rocky shore communities.
There is widespread evidence to show that biodiversity loss leads to declines in the functioning and stability of ecosystems. Yet, predicting the consequences of individual species loss remains a fundamental challenge in ecology. The ability to partition species contributions to ecosystem productivity has greatly benefitted research on relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. We developed an analogous framework for multiple dimensions of ecological stability.
Our aim was to develop an experimental framework that would improve our understanding of the frequently disparate relationships between biodiversity and stability observed in both models and experiments. Because of the multidimensional nature of ecological stability, we designed a framework that could incorporate multiple aspects of stability simultaneously, capturing the dynamics of the system and its response to perturbations. Using stainless steel cages, we experimentally excluded different grazer species from rock pools and periodically surveyed the communities to monitor their stability following a subsequent experimentally-induced pulse perturbation.
Nature Research Ecology & Evolution Community