A5026662176- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Ecosystem dynamics and resilience
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Conservation, Ecology, Wildlife Education
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology Models
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
University of California, Davis
2016-2025
University of California System
2008-2025
Science and Technology Policy Institute
2013
Bay Institute
2012
Health Affairs
2011
University of Kentucky
2000
Imperial College London
1992-1997
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
1990-1992
Abstract The metacommunity concept is an important way to think about linkages between different spatial scales in ecology. Here we review current understanding this concept. We first investigate issues related its definition as a set of local communities that are linked by dispersal multiple potentially interacting species. then identify four paradigms for metacommunities: the patch‐dynamic view, species‐sorting mass effects view and neutral each emphasizes processes potential importance...
Trait-mediated interactions (TMIs), in which trophic and competitive depend on individual traits as well overall population densities, have inspired large amounts of research, but theoretical empirical studies not been connected. To help mitigate this problem, we review synthesize the literature TMIs and, particular, trait-mediated indirect interactions, TMIIs, presence one species mediates interaction between a second third species. (1) In models, tend to stabilize simple communities;...
In theory, predator—prey pairs with extinction—prone local populations can persist through metapopulation dynamics, wherein fluctuate asynchronously, occasionally providing dispersers that prevent permanent extinction in all patches. A few studies have shown spatial structure extend persistence. However, no unequivocally demonstrated the asynchrony among patches, low dispersal rates, and rescue effects prove dynamics We used a protist pair to show subdivision lengthens persistence dynamics....
Abstract: Exotic species have frequently caused declines of native fauna and may contribute to some cases amphibian decline. Introductions mosquitofish ( Gambusia affinis ) bullfrogs Rana catesbeiana are suspected the decline California red‐legged frogs aurora draytonii ). We tested effects bullfrog tadpoles on frog in spatially complex, speciose communities. added 720 hatchling each 12 earthen ponds. Three ponds were controls, 3 stocked with 50 tadpoles, 8 adult mosquitofish, plus...
The effects of moon-phase and meteorological factors on activity adult noctuid moths were investigated using light bait traps in southern Spain for 170 nights (2 sampling years). number individuals caught the trap increased with temperature decreased fullness moon. effect flight was similar between traps. total recorded not affected by Increased cloud cover catches traps, but Bait records lower windy nights. Average catch varied 6- to 9-fold because changes temperature. Moonlight caused...
Abstract Disturbance is an important factor influencing diversity patterns. Ecological theory predicts that peaks at intermediate levels of disturbance, but this pattern not present in a majority empirical tests and can be influenced by the level ecosystem productivity. We experimentally tested effects disturbance on show species’ autecological traits community relations predicted species loss. found – alone or concert increasing intensity frequency, decreasing productivity, reduced...
ABSTRACT Food webs represent an important nexus between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, yet considering changes in food around the world has been limited by data availability. Previous studies have predicted web collapses coextinction, but structure less investigated under climate warming anthropogenic pressures on a global scale. We systematically amassed information about species' diets, traits, distributions, habitat use, phylogenetics real used machine learning to predict...
Abstract Species interactions remain a cornerstone in shaping community dynamics and structure, alongside other factors, such as climate conditions human activities. Although network structure is known to influence stability ecosystem functioning, the roles of top predators interaction obscure. We examined 5–7‐year time series species detections for mammal communities multiple protected areas investigate association between structure. Our findings suggest that abundant species, day‐active...
Although there is a large body of theory on spatial competitive coexistence, very little it involves comparative analyses alternative mechanisms. We thus have limited knowledge the conditions under which multiple mechanisms can operate or emergent properties arising from interactions between Here we present mathematical framework that allows for analysis coexistence The basis comparison operating in spatially homogeneous environments (e.g., life‐history trade‐offs) versus heterogeneous...
Neutral community models embody the idea that individuals are ecologically equivalent, having equal fitness over all environmental conditions, and describe how spatial dynamics speciation of such can produce a wide range patterns distribution, diversity, abundance. have been controversial, provoking rush tests comments. The debate has spurred by suggestion we should test mechanisms. However, mechanisms scales interest never clearly described, consequently, often only peripherally relevant....
Dispersal among ecological communities is usually assumed to be random in direction, or vary distance frequency species. However, a variety of natural systems and types organisms may experience dispersal that biased by directional currents gravity on hillslopes. We developed general model for competing species metacommunities evaluate the role directionally diversity, abundance, traits. In parallel, we tested microcosm experiment with protists rotifers. Both independently demonstrated...
Urbanization has profound influences on ecological communities, but our understanding of causal mechanisms is limited by a lack attention to its component stressors. Published research suggests that at landscape scales, habitat loss and fragmentation are the major drivers community change, whereas local human activity vegetation management primary Little focused whether urbanization stressors may supplant natural factors as dominant forces structuring communities. We used model selection...
Metacommunity theory poses that the occurrence and abundance of species is a product local factors, including disturbance, regional like dispersal among patches. While metacommunity ideas have been broadly tested there relatively little work on metacommunities subject to disturbance. We focused how localized disturbance interact determine composition in metacommunities. Experiments conducted simple two-patch habitats containing eight protozoa rotifer altered community both communities were...
We report the role of dispersal in metapopulation dynamics a protist predator-prey pair, predaceous ciliate Didinium nasutum Muller feeding on bacterivorous Colpidium cf. striatum Stokes. In previous work we showed that this extinction-prone pair persisted as metapopulations subdivided habitats. An experiment assessed effects habitat subdivision persistence and dynamics. Undivided habitats were 270 or 750 mL volume, (arrays) sets nine 25 linked 30mL bottles (270 750mL total volume), each...
This study tests whether spatial dynamics can stabilize metapopulations with a small number of patches and the influence patch arrangement. I measured persistence predator prey protists in replicated microcosms two to four patches. Predators persisted for 85–437 generations (26–130 d). As predicted by single‐species and/or predator‐prey metapopulation models, substantial variation was accounted amount or habitat, dispersal corridors, maximum interpatch distance, proportion providing...
A challenge for conservation management is to understand how population and habitat dynamics interact affect species persistence. In real landscapes, timing duration of disturbances can vary, species' responses changes will depend on dispersal reproduction events relate the landscape temporal structure. For instance, increasing disturbance frequency may promote extinction that are unable appropriately time their in an ever-changing favor able track changes. We developed a mathematical model...
The metacommunity framework has rapidly become a dominant concept used by ecologists to understand community assembly. By emphasizing extinction-colonization dynamics, dispersal, and species' niche requirements in determining structure, theory unifies local regional processes as integral species distributions across landscapes. Metacommunity structure traditionally been treated static. However, habitat characteristics composition can shift through time because of factors like seasonal...