Abstract Disturbance often results in small changes community structure, but the probability of transitioning to contrasting states increases when multiple disturbances combine. Nevertheless, we have limited insights into mechanisms that stabilise communities, particularly how perturbations can be absorbed without restructuring (i.e. resistance). Here, expand concept compensatory dynamics include countervailing absorb through trophic interactions. By definition, ‘compensation’ occurs if a...

Abstract Aim Biological invasions are among the main threats to biodiversity. To promote a mechanistic understanding of ecological impacts non‐native seaweeds, we assessed how effects on resident organisms vary according their trophic level. Location Global. Methods We performed meta‐analytical comparisons seaweeds both individual species and communities. compared results analyses whole dataset with those obtained from experimental data only and, when possible, between rocky soft bottoms....

The combination of ocean warming and acidification brings an uncertain future to kelp forests that occupy the warmest parts their range. These are not only subject direct negative effects climate change, but also a unknown indirect associated with changing ecological landscapes. Here, we used mesocosm experiments test on biomass photosynthetic health, as well climate-driven disparities in involving key consumers (urchins rock lobsters) competitors (algal turf). Elevated water temperature...

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 457:29-41 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09703 Variation in structure of subtidal landscapes NW Mediterranean Sea L. Tamburello1,*, Benedetti-Cecchi1, G. Ghedini1, T. Alestra1,2, F. Bulleri1 1Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Italy 2Marine Research Group, School...

ABSTRACT Species can evolve rapidly in response to competition but how evolution within communities affects community properties is unclear. To test this, we grew three marine phytoplankton species monoculture (alone) or polyculture (together) for 17 weeks. We then combined them based on their history (monoculture isolates) and tracked composition productivity over time. found that dominance was unaffected, coexistence reduced when evolved together (polyculture isolates). Total biovolume...

ABSTRACT Competition can drive rapid evolution, but forecasting how species evolve in communities remains difficult. Life history theory predicts that evolution crowded environments should maximize population production, with intra‐ and inter‐specific competition producing similar outcomes if compete for resources. Despite its appeal, this prediction has rarely been tested communities. To test generality identify physiological basis, we used experimental to maintain four of marine...

Abstract The problem of linking fine‐scale processes to broad‐scale patterns remains a central challenge ecology. As rates abiotic change intensify, there is critical need understand how individual responses aggregate generate compensatory dynamics that stabilize community processes. Notably, while local and global resource enhancement (e.g., nutrient CO 2 release) can reverse dominance relationship between key species shifts from naturally kelp‐dominated turf‐dominated systems), herbivores...

Anthropogenic activities have increased the number of stressors acting on ecosystems. When multiple act simultaneously, there is a greater probability additive, synergistic and antagonistic effects occurring among them. Where additive occur, managers may yield disproportionately large benefits where they first upon synergies. Stressors act, however, at different spatial temporal scales. Global (e.g., ocean acidification warming) tend to change slowly over long periods time, although their...

Changes in population density alter the availability, acquisition, and expenditure of resources by individuals, consequently their contribution to flux energy a system. While both negative positive density-dependence have been well studied natural populations, we are yet estimate underlying flows that generate these patterns ambivalent effects make prediction difficult. Ultimately, should emerge from conspecifics on rates intake (feeding) (metabolism) at organismal level, thus determining...

Abstract A major goal of metabolic ecology is to make predictions across scales such that individual rates might be used predict the populations and communities, but success these unclear given rarity tests. Given older communities tend have species with slower life histories larger body sizes, we hypothesized metabolism whole should scale allometrically their mass successional stages. We created experimental chronosequences sessile marine invertebrate in field. then (1) determined scaling...

Abstract Biodiversity determines the productivity and stability of ecosystems but some aspects biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships remain poorly resolved. One key uncertainty is inter‐relationship between biodiversity, energy biomass production as communities develop over time. Energy drives accumulation ratio two processes can change during community development. How biodiversity affects these temporal patterns remains unknown. We empirically assessed how species diversity...

The ecological consequences of climate change will be driven by a combination both gradual and abrupt changes in climatic conditions. Despite growing evidence that abiotic extreme events may profoundly alter processes, it remains unclear how such combine with longer-term global local disturbances. Here, we focused on key process herbivory tested its strength would response to forecasted (CO2 enrichment) disturbances (nutrient under (heat wave) or (future temperature) temperature, using an...

Robert MacArthur developed a theory of community assembly based on competition. By incorporating energy flow, MacArthur's allows for predictions function. A key prediction is that communities minimise wastage over time, but this minimisation trade-off between two conflicting processes: exploiting food resources, and maintaining low metabolism mortality. Despite its simplicity elegance, principle has not been tested empirically despite having long fascinated theoreticians. We used combination...

Abstract The spread of infectious disease is determined by the ability a pathogen to proliferate within and between susceptible hosts. Processes that limit performance thus occur at two scales: varying with both availability energy host, number hosts in patch. When rate which host intakes expends density‐dependent, these processes are intimately linked. By modifying how compete for expend resources, shift population density may contribute differences flow host–pathogen system, terms...

Abstract Both metabolism and growth scale sublinearly with body mass for most species. Ecosystems show the same sublinear scaling between production total biomass but ecological theory cannot reconcile existence of these nearly identical scalings at different levels biological organization. We solve this paradox using marine phytoplankton to connect individual ecosystem across three orders magnitude in size biomass. Competitive interactions determined by biomass, rather than differences...

Competition can drive rapid evolution but forecasting how species evolve in communities remains difficult. Life history theory predicts that crowded environments should maximise population production, with intra- and inter-specific competition producing similar outcomes if compete for resources. Despite its appeal, this prediction has rarely been tested communities. To test generality identify physiological basis, we experimentally evolved four of marine phytoplankton (spanning three orders...

Robert MacArthur's niche theory makes explicit predictions on how community function should change over time in a competitive community. A key prediction is that succession progressively minimizes the energy wasted by community, but this minimization trade-off between losses from unutilised resources and costs of maintenance. By predicting competition determines efficiency may inform impacts disturbance invasion risk. We provide rare test using phytoplankton communities, find older...

Current trends in habitat loss have been forecast to accelerate under anticipated global change, thereby focusing conservation attention on identifying the circumstances which key species interactions retard loss. Urbanised coastlines are associated with broad-scale of kelp canopies and their replacement by less productive mats algal turf, a trend predicted ocean acidification warming (i.e. enhanced CO2 temperature). Here we use forests as model system test whether efforts maintain can...

Size and metabolism are highly correlated, so that community energy flux might be predicted from size distributions alone. However, the accuracy of predictions based on interspecific energy–size relationships relative to approaches not is unknown. We compare six predict in phytoplankton communities across succession: assuming a constant use among species (per cell or unit biomass), using scaling species-specific rates (both with without accounting for density effects). Except per approach,...

Within species, individuals of the same size can vary substantially in their metabolic rate. One source variation metabolism is conspecific density - denser populations may have lower than those sparser populations. However, mechanisms through which conspecifics drive suppression remain unclear. Although food competition a potential driver, other density-mediated factors could act independently or combination to suppression, but these drivers rarely been investigated. We used sessile marine...