On the structure of species-function participation in multilayer ecological networks
Hervías-Parejo, Sandra; Cuevas-Blanco, Mar; Lacasa, Lucas; Traveset, Anna; Donoso, Isabel; Heleno, Rubén; Nogales, Manuel; Rodríguez-Echeverría, Susana; Melián, Carlos; Eguíluz, Victor
Nature Communications 15, (2024)
Nature Communications 15, (2024)
Understanding how biotic interactions shape ecosystems and impact their functioning, resilience and biodiversity has been a sustained research priority in ecology. Yet, traditional assessments of ecological complexity typically focus on species-species interactions that mediate a particular function (e.g., pollination), overlooking both the synergistic effect that multiple functions might develop as well as the resulting species-function participation patterns that emerge in ecosystems that harbor multiple ecological functions. Here we propose a mathematical framework that integrates various types of biotic interactions observed between different species. Its application to recently collected data of an islet ecosystem—reporting 1537 interactions between 691plants, animals and fungi across six different functions (pollination, herbivory, seed dispersal, decomposition, nutrient uptake, and fungal pathogenicity)—unveils a non-random, nested structure in the way plant species participate across different functions. The framework further allows us to identify a ranking of species and functions, where woody shrubs and fungal decomposition emerge as keystone actors whose removal have a larger-than-random effect on secondary extinctions. The dual insight—from species and functional perspectives—offered by the framework opens the door to a richer quantification of ecosystem complexity and to better calibrate the influence of multifunctionality on ecosystem functioning and biodiversity.
Related research projects
MdM-IFISC-2
Maria de Maeztu 2023-2026
P.I.: Ernesto Estrada, Ingo Fischer, Emilio Hernández-García, Rosa Lopez, Claudio Mirasso, Jose Javier Ramasco, Raúl Toral, Roberta Zambrini
After 15 years of its existence, IFISC can point to a proven track record of impactful research. The previous 2018-2022 MdM award has significantly enhanced the institute's capabilities, as demonstrated by an …
DYNDEEP
Dynamics of Temporal Networks: Memory and Deep Learning
P.I.: Lucas Lacasa
The interaction between elements of a complex system arising in physics, biology or sociology can be modelled as a mathematical graph. The precise architecture of this interaction backbone plays a fundamental role …
MISLAND
Modelling island ecological complexity in the context of global change
P.I.: Lucas Lacasa, Víctor M. Eguíluz
** This project (PID2020-114324GB-C22) is part of a coordinated project between IFISC and IMEDEA, both research centers from CSIC located in Mallorca. The project is funded by AEI and a PhD fellowship …
Related News
Un nou marc matemàtic revela l'arquitectura de les interaccions biòtiques
Oct. 25, 2024
Un equip interdisciplinari amb participació de l'IFISC ha desenvolupat un model que integra múltiples tipus d'interaccions biòtiques en un mateix marc Aquest marc matemàtic és innovador perquè no es limita a les xarxes ecològiques, sinó que pot estendre's a altres …
New mathematical framework reveals architecture of biotic interactions
Oct. 25, 2024
An interdisciplinary team with IFISC participation has developed a model that integrates multiple types of biotic interactions in a single framework. What is innovative about this mathematical framework is that it is not limited to ecological networks, but can be …
Un nuevo marco matemático revela la arquitectura de las interacciones bióticas
Oct. 25, 2024
Un equipo interdisciplinar con participación del IFISC ha desarrollado un modelo que integra múltiples tipos de interacciones bióticas en un mismo marco Lo innovador de este marco matemático es que no se limita a las redes ecológicas, sino que puede …