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Published on: March 12, 2013
Understanding food-web persistence from local to global scales
Daniel B Stouffer1, Jordi Bascompte
1Integrative Ecology Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, c/ Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092 Sevilla, Spain. stouffer@ebd.csic.es
Ecology Letters
|December 9, 2009
Summary
Ecological studies on food-web modules show that while module persistence doesn't directly predict whole food web persistence, common modules enhance community stability, justifying observed food-web structures.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Theoretical Ecology
- Community Ecology
Background:
- Food-web persistence is crucial for biodiversity maintenance.
- Studies often focus on tractable trophic modules (e.g., food chains, omnivory) rather than entire food webs.
- The relevance of module studies for inferring whole food web persistence remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the appropriateness of scaling findings from isolated trophic modules to entire food webs.
- To investigate the relationship between module dynamics and whole food web persistence.
- To understand the ecological significance of empirically observed food-web structures.
Main Methods:
- Integrated analysis of four key trophic modules (tri-trophic chains, omnivory, exploitative competition, apparent competition) in isolation and within whole food webs.
- Comparative analysis of module dynamics and their impact on community persistence.
- Evaluation of the relationship between module prevalence in empirical food webs and their contribution to persistence.
Main Results:
- No direct one-to-one relationship exists between the isolated persistence of modules and their effect on whole food web persistence.
- Modules frequently observed in empirical food webs are associated with greater community persistence.
- The prevalence of certain modules in nature is dynamically justified.
Conclusions:
- Findings from isolated trophic module studies have limitations when extrapolating to entire food web persistence.
- Commonly occurring food-web modules play a significant role in maintaining community stability.
- The structure of empirical food webs is supported by underlying dynamic principles related to module persistence.
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