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Linking metacommunity paradigms to spatial coexistence mechanisms.

Lauren G Shoemaker1, Brett A Melbourne1

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, UCB 334, Ramaley Hall, Boulder, Colorado, 80309, USA.

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Summary

Metacommunity paradigms explain spatial dynamics, but coexistence mechanisms remain unclear. This study models these paradigms, finding that individual aggregation (fitness-density covariance) is key for coexistence in most niche-based models.

Keywords:
coexistenceequalizing mechanismsmass effectsmetacommunity paradigmsneutral modelnichepatch dynamicsspatial variationspecies sortingstabilizing mechanisms

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Spatial Ecology
  • Community Ecology

Background:

  • Four metacommunity paradigms (neutral, species sorting, mass effects, patch dynamics) are used to study spatial community dynamics.
  • These paradigms highlight mechanisms like dispersal limitation and competition-colonization tradeoffs.
  • Coexistence mechanisms within and across paradigms, especially with combined influences, are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a common model for competitive metacommunities applicable to all four paradigms and their combinations.
  • To derive and quantify Chesson's spatial coexistence mechanisms for each paradigm.
  • To elucidate the relative importance of different coexistence mechanisms, such as fitness-density covariance and the storage effect.

Main Methods:

  • Created a unified model for competitive metacommunities with specific parameterizations for each paradigm.
  • Derived analytical expressions for Chesson's spatial coexistence mechanisms.
  • Quantified coexistence mechanisms using simulations across different metacommunity scenarios.

Main Results:

  • Fitness-density covariance (intraspecific aggregation) was the dominant coexistence mechanism in all niche-based paradigms (species sorting, mass effects, patch dynamics).
  • Increased dispersal reduced coexistence strength in the mass effects paradigm by diminishing intraspecific aggregation.
  • Fitness-density covariance can be stronger than the storage effect and is the sole stabilizing mechanism in the patch dynamics paradigm; stochasticity impacts niche-structured metacommunities.

Conclusions:

  • Fitness-density covariance is a crucial, often dominant, factor for species coexistence in metacommunities, potentially more so than the storage effect.
  • Dispersal rates critically influence coexistence strength by affecting individual aggregation.
  • Chesson's spatial coexistence mechanisms offer a robust framework for comparing diverse metacommunity structures and dynamics.