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Species dynamics alter community diversity-biomass stability relationships

Mike Fowler Orcid Logo, Jouni Laakso, Veijo Kaitala, Lasse Ruokolainen, Esa Ranta

Ecology Letters, Volume: 15, Issue: 12, Pages: 1387 - 1396

Swansea University Author: Mike Fowler Orcid Logo

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Abstract

Previous ecological theory, developed to support the idea that increasing species diversity stabilizes the variability of total community biomass under fluctuating environments, is underpinned by the assumption that all community members have the same simple, stable intrinsic dynamics – an assumptio...

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Published in: Ecology Letters
ISSN: 1461-023X
Published: 2012
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa13405
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Abstract: Previous ecological theory, developed to support the idea that increasing species diversity stabilizes the variability of total community biomass under fluctuating environments, is underpinned by the assumption that all community members have the same simple, stable intrinsic dynamics – an assumption lacking solid empirical support. By modelling ecosystems composed of species with stable, cyclic and more complex dynamics, we demonstrated when both positive and (for the first time) negative diversity–stability patterns are expected. This extends previous theory, providing new, testable hypotheses for explaining observed empirical patterns. This work is relevant to any field studying coupled deterministic and stochastic processes.
Keywords: Complex dynamics, dynamical instability, environmental stochasticity, intrinsic growth rate, portfolio/insurance effect, synchrony, species–environment interactions, species–species interactions.
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Issue: 12
Start Page: 1387
End Page: 1396