Measuring and Linking the Missing Part of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: The Diversity of Biotic Interactions
Biotic interactions are part of all ecosystem attributes and play an important role in the structure and stability of biological communities. In this study, we give a brief account of how the threads of biotic interactions are linked and how we can measure such complexity by focusing on mutualistic...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/3/86 |
| _version_ | 1811212943784673280 |
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| author | Pedro Luna Erick J. Corro Reuber Antoniazzi Wesley Dáttilo |
| author_facet | Pedro Luna Erick J. Corro Reuber Antoniazzi Wesley Dáttilo |
| author_sort | Pedro Luna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biotic interactions are part of all ecosystem attributes and play an important role in the structure and stability of biological communities. In this study, we give a brief account of how the threads of biotic interactions are linked and how we can measure such complexity by focusing on mutualistic interactions. We start by explaining that although biotic interactions are fundamental ecological processes, they are also a component of biodiversity with a clear α, β and γ diversity structure which can be measured and used to explain how biotic interactions vary over time and space. Specifically, we explain how to estimate the α-diversity by measuring the properties of species interaction networks. We also untangle the components of the β-diversity and how it can be used to make pairwise comparisons between networks. Moreover, we move forward to explain how local ecological networks are a subset of a regional pool of species and potential interactions, γ-diversity, and how this approach allows assessing the spatial and temporal dynamics of ecological networks. Finally, we propose a new framework for studying interactions and the biodiversity−ecosystem function relationship by identifying the unique and common interactions of local networks over space, time or both together. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:38:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d0fc339e5df5485fadfe18e8ab4f31a5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:38:08Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-d0fc339e5df5485fadfe18e8ab4f31a52022-12-22T03:45:46ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182020-02-011238610.3390/d12030086d12030086Measuring and Linking the Missing Part of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: The Diversity of Biotic InteractionsPedro Luna0Erick J. Corro1Reuber Antoniazzi2Wesley Dáttilo3Red de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología AC, Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, MexicoRed de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología AC, Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, MexicoRed de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología AC, Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, MexicoRed de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología AC, Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, MexicoBiotic interactions are part of all ecosystem attributes and play an important role in the structure and stability of biological communities. In this study, we give a brief account of how the threads of biotic interactions are linked and how we can measure such complexity by focusing on mutualistic interactions. We start by explaining that although biotic interactions are fundamental ecological processes, they are also a component of biodiversity with a clear α, β and γ diversity structure which can be measured and used to explain how biotic interactions vary over time and space. Specifically, we explain how to estimate the α-diversity by measuring the properties of species interaction networks. We also untangle the components of the β-diversity and how it can be used to make pairwise comparisons between networks. Moreover, we move forward to explain how local ecological networks are a subset of a regional pool of species and potential interactions, γ-diversity, and how this approach allows assessing the spatial and temporal dynamics of ecological networks. Finally, we propose a new framework for studying interactions and the biodiversity−ecosystem function relationship by identifying the unique and common interactions of local networks over space, time or both together.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/3/86alpha diversitybeta diversitygamma diversityecological networksspecies interactionsmutualismssymbiosis |
| spellingShingle | Pedro Luna Erick J. Corro Reuber Antoniazzi Wesley Dáttilo Measuring and Linking the Missing Part of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: The Diversity of Biotic Interactions Diversity alpha diversity beta diversity gamma diversity ecological networks species interactions mutualisms symbiosis |
| title | Measuring and Linking the Missing Part of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: The Diversity of Biotic Interactions |
| title_full | Measuring and Linking the Missing Part of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: The Diversity of Biotic Interactions |
| title_fullStr | Measuring and Linking the Missing Part of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: The Diversity of Biotic Interactions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Measuring and Linking the Missing Part of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: The Diversity of Biotic Interactions |
| title_short | Measuring and Linking the Missing Part of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: The Diversity of Biotic Interactions |
| title_sort | measuring and linking the missing part of biodiversity and ecosystem function the diversity of biotic interactions |
| topic | alpha diversity beta diversity gamma diversity ecological networks species interactions mutualisms symbiosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/3/86 |
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