An extended patch-dynamic framework for food chains in fragmented landscapes

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Theoretical Ecology
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Habitat destruction is a primary driver of species loss, comprising patch loss and fragmentation.
• Metacommunity models traditionally focus on patch loss, neglecting fragmentation's impact on food webs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an extended patch-dynamic model incorporating dispersal and connectivity to study fragmentation effects.
• To investigate how habitat fragmentation influences species occupancy in food webs.

Main Methods:

• Developed an extended patch-dynamic model with colonization-extinction-predation dynamics and species dispersal.
• Incorporated patch connectivity to simulate fragmented landscapes.
• Performed spatially explicit simulations for comparison.

Main Results:

• Higher trophic level species go extinct faster with increased patch loss and fragmentation.
• Fragmentation's impact on species occupancy is mainly driven by patch loss.
• Maximal fragmentation effects on species occupancy occur at intermediate patch loss.

Conclusions:

• The extended model successfully predicts community patterns in fragmented landscapes.
• The framework advances metacommunity theory by including fragmentation effects.
• This approach can model complex food webs in fragmented habitats, aiding conservation efforts.