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

Abstract

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

Effects of the Temporal Scale of Observation on the Analysis of Aquatic Invertebrate Metacommunities

“…We used a model based on previous metacommunity simulations (Gravel et al, 2006;Sokol et al, 2017;Thompson et al, 2020). These models allow the observation of simulated metacommunity dynamics along different gradients of selection and dispersal.…”

Metacommunity Structures of Macroinvertebrates and Diatoms in High Mountain Streams, Yunnan, China

“…Our results showing significant associations between macroinvertebrate and diatoms community dissimilarity when adjusted for all other distances support our hypothesis that biotic interactions significantly affect the community structure of aquatic organisms in the Cangshan Mountain (H4). Macroinvertebrate and diatom communities can interact with one another through producer-consumer relationships, as grazer macroinvertebrates consume diatoms in the periphyton, which could lead to the significant association between macroinvertebrate and diatom dissimilarity (Thompson et al, 2020). Additionally, as mentioned above, macroinvertebrates are a dispersal vector for diatoms, which could lead to cooccurrence.…”

Beyond a single patch: local and regional processes explain diversity patterns in a seagrass epifaunal metacommunity

“…Understanding how local environmental conditions, regional connectivity by dispersal and biotic interactions jointly structure the composition of communities is a central challenge in ecology (Ricklefs and Schluter 2003, Vellend 2010, Leibold and Chase 2017. Metacommunity ecology (Leibold et al 2004, Leibold and Chase 2017, Thompson et al 2020) offers a framework for understanding community assembly processes across spatial scales. In recent 4 years, applications of the metacommunity framework have emphasized the underlying processes that give rise to abundance and diversity patterns (Brown et al 2017, Leibold and Chase 2018, Thompson et al 2020.…”

“…Metacommunity ecology (Leibold et al 2004, Leibold and Chase 2017, Thompson et al 2020) offers a framework for understanding community assembly processes across spatial scales. In recent 4 years, applications of the metacommunity framework have emphasized the underlying processes that give rise to abundance and diversity patterns (Brown et al 2017, Leibold and Chase 2018, Thompson et al 2020. Thompson et al (2020) framed the metacommunity concept based on three fundamental processes that together govern the dynamics of populations and communities: 1) Density-independent responses to environmental conditions, 2) Density-dependent biotic interactions (ie.…”

“…In recent 4 years, applications of the metacommunity framework have emphasized the underlying processes that give rise to abundance and diversity patterns (Brown et al 2017, Leibold and Chase 2018, Thompson et al 2020. Thompson et al (2020) framed the metacommunity concept based on three fundamental processes that together govern the dynamics of populations and communities: 1) Density-independent responses to environmental conditions, 2) Density-dependent biotic interactions (ie. inter and intra-specific competition, predation or facilitation influencing population growth and co-existence), and 3) Dispersal influencing connectivity across a landscape or seascape.…”