Fluctuation‐independent niche differentiation and relative non‐linearity drive coexistence in a species‐rich grassland

Zepeda, Verónica; Martorell, Carlos

doi:10.1002/ecy.2726

Cited by 45 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 41 publications

(122 reference statements)

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“…Empirical evidence supports both relative non‐linearity and the storage effect as coexistence mechanisms operating in nature, albeit mostly for plants and plankton (Adler et al ; Angert et al ; Caceres ; Chesson et al ; Descamps‐Julien &Gonzalez ; Zepeda & Martorell ). Relative non‐linearity could contribute most strongly to coexistence in species that diverge in life‐history traits (e.g.…”

Section: Coexistence In Fluctuating Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Recent theoretical and empirical studies have also concluded that species diverge along multiple niche axes, and that multiple coexistence mechanisms likely operate simultaneously to sustain nature’s diversity (Chesson et al ; Chesson , ; Ellner et al ; Zepeda & Martorell ). Using different resources and using the same resource at different times would both be expected to stabilise coexistence for the same reason: both dampen the strength of interspecific relative to intraspecific competition (Chesson ; Chesson & Huntely 1997; Chesson ).…”

Section: A Case For Multiple Coexistence Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Winter in water: differential responses and the maintenance of biodiversity

et al. 2020

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The ecological consequences of winter in freshwater systems are an understudied but rapidly emerging research area. Here, we argue that winter periods of reduced temperature and light (and potentially oxygen and resources) could play an underappreciated role in mediating the coexistence of species. This may be especially true for temperate and subarctic lakes, where seasonal changes in the thermal environment might fundamentally structure species interactions. With climate change already shortening ice-covered periods on temperate and polar lakes, consideration of how winter conditions shape biotic interactions is urgently needed. Using freshwater fishes in northern temperate lakes as a case study, we demonstrate how physiological trait differences (e.g. thermal preference, light sensitivity) drive differential behavioural responses to winter among competing species. Specifically, some species have a higher capacity for winter activity than others. Existing and new theory is presented to argue that such differential responses to winter can promote species coexistence. Importantly, if winter is a driver of niche differences that weaken competition between, relative to within species, then shrinking winter periods could threaten coexistence by tipping the scales in favour of certain sets of species over others.

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Section: Coexistence In Fluctuating Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: A Case For Multiple Coexistence Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Winter in water: differential responses and the maintenance of biodiversity

et al. 2020

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“…Niche partitioning in time, just as in resource partitioning in space, weakens the strength of inter-specific competition (vs. intra-specific competition) and allows an inferior competitor or low-density species to coexist with a superior competitor. Empirical evidence supports both relative non-linearity and the storage effect as coexistence mechanisms operating in nature, albeit mostly for plants and plankton (Adler et al 2006;Angert et al 2011;Caceres 1997;Chesson et al 2012;Descamps-Julien &Gonzalez 2005;Zepeda & Martorell 2019). Relative non-linearity could contribute most strongly to coexistence in species that diverge in life-history traits (e.g., fast vs. slow strategies) but otherwise have high niche overlap (Xiao & Fussmann 2013).…”

Section: Stabilizing Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Recent theoretical and empirical studies have also concluded that species diverge along multiple niche axes, and that multiple coexistence mechanisms likely operate simultaneously to sustain nature's diversity (Chesson et al 2012;Chesson 2018Chesson , 2019Ellner et al 2016;Zepeda & Martorell 2019). Using different resources and using the same resource at different times would both be expected to stabilize coexistence for the same reason: both dampen the strength of interspecific relative to intra-specific competition (Chesson 2000;Chesson & Huntely 1997;Chesson 1985).…”

Section: A Case For Multiple Coexistence Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Winter in water: Differential responses and the maintenance of biodiversity

McMeans

McCann

Guzzo

et al. 2019

Preprint

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The ecological consequences of winter in freshwater systems are an understudied but rapidly emerging research area. Here, we argue that winter periods of reduced temperature and light (and potentially oxygen and resources) could play an underappreciated role in mediating the coexistence of species. This may be especially true for temperate and subarctic lakes, where seasonal changes in the thermal environment might fundamentally structure species interactions. With climate change already shortening ice-covered periods on temperate and polar lakes, consideration of how winter conditions shape biotic interactions is urgently needed. Using freshwater fishes in northern temperate lakes as a case study, we demonstrate how physiological trait differences (e.g., thermal preference, light sensitivity) drive differential behavioral responses to winter among competing species. Specifically, some species have a higher capacity for winter activity than others. Existing and new theory is presented to argue that such differential responses to winter can promote species coexistence. Importantly, if winter is a driver of niche differences that weaken competition between relative to within species, then shrinking winter periods could threaten coexistence by tipping the scales in favor of certain sets of species over others.

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“…235 received considerably less attention than the contribution of nonadditive responses (mainly 237 the storage effect). Nonlinear responses to coexistence were initially thought to be more 238 limited than for the latter (Chesson 1994), although recent studies suggest otherwise (Letten 239 et al 2018;Hallett et al 2019;Zepeda & Martorell 2019). Importantly, the contribution of 240 nonlinear responses to coexistence was thought to be limited to competition (e.g., (Chesson 241 1994(Chesson 241 , 2000) until very recently (Ellner et al 2019).…”

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confidence: 99%

Disturbance-induced changes in size-structure promote coral biodiversity

Álvarez‐Noriega

Madin

Baird

et al. 2020

Preprint

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25Reef-building coral assemblages are typically species-rich, yet the processes maintaining 26 coral biodiversity remain poorly understood. Disturbance has long been believed to promote 27 coral species coexistence by reducing the strength of competition. However, such 28 disturbance-induced effects have since been shown to be insufficient on their own to prevent 29 competitive exclusion. Nevertheless, Modern Coexistence Theory has revealed other 30 mechanisms by which disturbance and, more generally, environmental variation can favour 31 coexistence. Here, we formulate, calibrate, and analyze a size-structured, stochastic coral 32 competition model using field data from two common colony morphologies. These two coral 33 morphologies, tabular and digitate, differ in their size-dependent vulnerability to 34 dislodgement caused by wave action. We confirm that fluctuations in wave action can 35 promote coral species coexistence. However, using a recently proposed partitioning 36 framework, we show that, contrast to previous expectations, temporal variability in strength 37 of competition did not promote coexistence. Instead, coexistence was enabled by differential 38 fluctuations in size-dependent mortality among competitors. Frequent and intense 39 disturbances resulted in monocultures of digitate corals, which are more robust to wave 40 action than tabular corals. In contrast, infrequent or weak disturbances resulted in 41 monocultures of tabular corals. Coexistence was only possible under intermediate levels of 42 disturbance frequency and intensity. Given the sensitivity of coexistence to disturbance 43 frequency and intensity, anthropogenic changes in disturbance regimes are likely to affect 44 biodiversity in coral assemblages in ways that are not predictable from single population 45 models. 46 47 48 Reef-building coral assemblages are an example of the 'paradox of the plankton' 51 (Hutchinson 1961): they can be species-rich, even though species compete for a small 52 number of limiting resources, mainly space, light, and nutrients in the water column. 53

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Fluctuation‐independent niche differentiation and relative non‐linearity drive coexistence in a species‐rich grassland

Cited by 45 publications

References 41 publications

Winter in water: differential responses and the maintenance of biodiversity

Winter in water: differential responses and the maintenance of biodiversity

Winter in water: Differential responses and the maintenance of biodiversity

Disturbance-induced changes in size-structure promote coral biodiversity

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