Succession comprises a sequence of threshold-induced community assembly processes towards multidiversity

• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03372-2
• Publication Date: 2022-05-06T10:19:45Z
• Authors: Maximilian Hanusch; Xie He; Victoria Ruiz-Her...; Robert R. Junker
• Keywords: Biotic component; Sequence (biology)

Research on successions and community assembly both address the same processes such as dispersal, species sorting, biotic interactions but lack unifying concepts. Recent theoretical advances integrated research lines proposing a sequence of stochastic deterministic along successional gradients. Shifts in ecosystem states gradients are predicted to occur abruptly once abiotic factors dominate over dispersal main driver. Considering multidiversity composed five organismal groups including plants, animals, microbes, our results imply that stochastic, likely dispersal-dominated, replaced by rather environmental filtering after around 60 years succession glacier forefield. The niche-based character later is further supported decline multi-beta-diversity. Our may update concepts considering multiple taxa, help bridge gap between assembly, provide insights into emergence multidiverse complex ecosystems.