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Spatial ecological networks: planning for sustainability in the long-term
Andrew Gonzalez1, Patrick Thompson2, Michel Loreau3
1Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1B1, Canada.
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability
|April 27, 2018
Summary
Spatial ecological networks (SENs) are crucial for biodiversity conservation. This study highlights the need to model dynamic network changes and their eco-evolutionary impacts for sustainable landscape management.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Network Theory
Background:
- Human activities create complex social-ecological outcomes in landscapes worldwide.
- Spatial ecological networks (SENs) are a conservation strategy for fragmented landscapes, focusing on static connectivity.
- Current SEN approaches often overlook the dynamic feedbacks between network structure and eco-evolutionary processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review theories on how connectivity influences diversity, stability, ecosystem functioning, and evolutionary adaptation.
- To emphasize the necessity of modeling long-term SEN dynamics for sustainability.
- To demonstrate how network topology and node centrality affect SEN robustness.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of ecological network theory.
- Analysis of spatial ecological network dynamics and eco-evolutionary feedbacks.
- Case study illustrating the impact of node centrality on network robustness.
Main Results:
- Diversity, stability, ecosystem functioning, and evolutionary adaptation exhibit nonlinear relationships with connectivity.
- SEN robustness to node/link loss is contingent on the centrality of targeted nodes.
- Long-term dynamics of SENs are challenging to measure and model but essential for sustainability.
Conclusions:
- Sustainable SEN design requires scenario planning for landscape change impacts on network structure and dynamics.
- Continuous monitoring of established SENs is vital for adaptive management within safe operating spaces.
- Co-designing SENs with stakeholders can foster positive human-nature relationships and enhance conservation outcomes.
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