A bioenergetic framework for the temperature dependence of trophic interactions

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Ecological Dynamics
• Food Web Stability

Background:

• Temperature significantly influences ecological communities by modifying trophic interactions.
• Existing ecological models struggle to account for simultaneous changes in multiple temperature-dependent rates.
• A unified approach is needed to understand temperature's impact on species performance and trophic dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an energetic approach linking biomass fluxes and standing biomass across trophic levels.
• To measure temperature-dependent changes in trophic interaction strength and their effect on food web stability.
• To clarify how temperature alters key ecological metrics such as biomass ratios, resilience, and extinction risk.

Main Methods:

• Utilized biomass as a common energetic currency to link ecological rates and trophic dynamics.
• Isolated three core temperature-dependent processes: resource biomass accumulation, resource consumption, and consumer mortality.
• Developed a framework to analyze temperature's influence on consumer-resource biomass ratios and dynamic behaviors.

Main Results:

• Identified specific conditions under which temperature alters consumer-resource biomass ratios and food web stability.
• Clarified how temperature influences equilibrium resilience, consumer variability, and extinction risk.
• Characterized asymmetries in species' responses to temperature, leading to distinct dynamic behaviors.

Conclusions:

• The proposed energetic framework provides a mechanistic and unified understanding of temperature's effects on trophic dynamics.
• This approach enhances predictions of how ecological communities will respond to changing temperatures.
• Understanding these temperature-driven shifts is crucial for predicting food web stability and biodiversity outcomes.