A common framework for identifying linkage rules across different types of interactions
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
1.Species interactions, ranging from antagonisms to mutualisms, form the architecture of biodiversity and determine ecosystem functioning. Understanding the rules responsible for who interacts with whom, as well as the functional consequences of these interspecific interactions, is central to predict community dynamics and stability.
2.Species traits sensu lato may affect different ecological processes by determining species interactions through a two-step process. First, ecological and life-history traits govern species distributions and abundance, and hence determine species co-occurrence and the potential for species to interact. Second, morphological or physiological traits between co-occurring potential interaction partners should match for the realization of an interaction. Here, we review recent advances on predicting interactions from species co-occurrence, and develop a probabilistic model for inferring trait matching.
3.The models proposed here integrate both neutral and trait-matching constraints, while using only information about known interactions, thereby overcoming problems originating from under-sampling of rare interactions (i.e. missing links). They can easily accommodate qualitative or quantitative data, and can incorporate trait variation within species, such as values that vary along developmental stages or environmental gradients.
4.We use three case studies to show that the proposed models can detect strong trait matching (e.g. predator-prey system), relaxed trait matching (e.g. herbivore-plant system) and barrier trait matching (e.g. plant-pollinator systems).
5.Only by elucidating which species traits are important in each process (i.e. in determining interaction establishment and frequency), can we advance in explaining how species interact and the consequences of these interactions for ecosystem functioning.
2.Species traits sensu lato may affect different ecological processes by determining species interactions through a two-step process. First, ecological and life-history traits govern species distributions and abundance, and hence determine species co-occurrence and the potential for species to interact. Second, morphological or physiological traits between co-occurring potential interaction partners should match for the realization of an interaction. Here, we review recent advances on predicting interactions from species co-occurrence, and develop a probabilistic model for inferring trait matching.
3.The models proposed here integrate both neutral and trait-matching constraints, while using only information about known interactions, thereby overcoming problems originating from under-sampling of rare interactions (i.e. missing links). They can easily accommodate qualitative or quantitative data, and can incorporate trait variation within species, such as values that vary along developmental stages or environmental gradients.
4.We use three case studies to show that the proposed models can detect strong trait matching (e.g. predator-prey system), relaxed trait matching (e.g. herbivore-plant system) and barrier trait matching (e.g. plant-pollinator systems).
5.Only by elucidating which species traits are important in each process (i.e. in determining interaction establishment and frequency), can we advance in explaining how species interact and the consequences of these interactions for ecosystem functioning.
Date Issued
2016-05-11
Date Acceptance
2016-03-10
Citation
Functional Ecology, 2016, 30, pp.1894-1903
ISSN
1365-2435
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
1894
End Page
1903
Journal / Book Title
Functional Ecology
Volume
30
Copyright Statement
© 2016 The Authors. Functional Ecology © 2016 British Ecological Society. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Bartomeus, I., Gravel, D., Tylianakis, J. M., Aizen, M. A., Dickie, I. A. and Bernard-Verdier, M. (2016), A common framework for identifying linkage rules across different types of interactions. Funct Ecol, which has been published in final form at https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.12666. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Ecology
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
functional traits
herbivory
interaction networks
mutualisms
parasitism
pollination
predation
trait matching
trophic interactions
PLANT-POLLINATOR INTERACTIONS
ANIMAL MUTUALISTIC NETWORKS
TRAIT-BASED FRAMEWORK
PARASITOID FOOD WEBS
ECOLOGICAL NETWORKS
BODY-SIZE
COMMUNITY STRUCTURE
BIOTIC INTERACTIONS
CLIMATE-CHANGE
LIFE-HISTORY
06 Biological Sciences
05 Environmental Sciences
Publication Status
Published