How can the structure of ecosystems predict species' survival?

Abstract:

Understanding the characteristics that promote ecosystems’ resilience is crucial to explain and protect biodiversity. In this picture, environmental changes may alter species interactions, leading to cascade extinctions. For this reason, determining which species are more prone to initiate cascades is of paramount importance. Here, we study the structural features of ecological networks that better predict species’ survival when the strength of their interactions is varied. Employing the replicator equation as a proxy for species dynamics, we find that a high eigenvector centrality is a key factor for survival in mutualistic networks. This result reinforces the importance of the species’ neighbors identity and the existence of positive feedback that prevent ecosystem collapse. This panorama changes with competitive interactions. In that case, the species that go extinct by extinctions cascades are determined not by their low eigenvector centrality but by a high degree. When both competitive and mutualistic interactions are considered, the behavior of the system is richer. Under those circumstances, not only networks are more resilient but eigenvector centrality and degree alone cannot fully predict species fate. Other individual properties such as the ratio between mutualistic and competitive interactions also play a fundamental role.

Zoom link:  

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87316222390?pwd=RG1qSG14TVA4aVBwNFBhRXAxNExWQT09