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Nestedness versus modularity in ecological networks: two sides of the same coin?
Miguel A Fortuna1, Daniel B Stouffer, Jens M Olesen
1Integrative Ecology Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cieitificas, Calle Américo Vespucio s/n, Seville, Spain. fortuna@ebd.csic.es
The Journal of Animal Ecology
|April 9, 2010
Summary
Ecological network structure, specifically nestedness and modularity, varies with connectance. Understanding these relationships is key for predicting community responses to global change.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Network Theory
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Ecological network structure is vital for understanding community and ecosystem dynamics.
- Previous research has largely focused on individual network properties, neglecting their interrelationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between nestedness and modularity in ecological networks.
- To determine how this relationship influences our understanding of ecological patterns and mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a large dataset comprising 95 ecological communities (plant-animal mutualistic and host-parasite networks).
- Examination of the correlation between nestedness and modularity using random matrices generated from empirical data.
- Comparison of results across different null models to assess robustness.
Main Results:
- A significant negative correlation between nestedness and modularity was observed as network connectance increased, irrespective of network type.
- At low connectance, networks high in nestedness were also highly modular; this trend reversed at high connectance.
- While the general pattern was robust across null models, quantitative differences emerged, highlighting model-specific interactions.
Conclusions:
- The interplay between nestedness and modularity is complex and dependent on network connectance.
- Understanding these structural properties is crucial for predicting ecological community dynamics and stability in the face of global change.
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