An ecological network approach to predict ecosystem service vulnerability to species losses

Abstract

Human-driven threats are changing biodiversity, impacting ecosystem services. The loss of one species can trigger secondary extinctions of additional species, because species interact–yet the consequences of these secondary extinctions for services remain underexplored. Herein, we compare robustness of food webs and the ecosystem services (hereafter ‘services’) they provide; and investigate factors determining service responses to secondary extinctions. Simulating twelve extinction scenarios for estuarine food webs with seven services, we find that food web and service robustness are highly correlated, but that robustness varies across services depending on their trophic level and redundancy. Further, we find that species providing services do not play a critical role in stabilizing food webs – whereas species playing supporting roles in services through interactions are critical to the robustness of both food webs and services. Together, our results reveal indirect risks to services through secondary species losses and predictable differences in vulnerability across services.

Universal scaling of robustness of ecosystem services to species loss

“…By enabling identification of the key species that contribute to the robustness of ecosystem service supply, our theory provides a focus for management efforts that require consideration of the conservation value of individual species 8 , 10 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 42 – 44 . Focussing on the contribution of individual species to robustness and the vulnerability of those species to extinction through their life histories, interactions and functional traits 24 , 31 , 45 , 46 will enable empirical quantification of how vulnerability scales from species through to ecosystem services 11 , 12 , 15 , 18 , 43 . Ultimately, such a shift will provide a far richer and mechanistic understanding of the sustainability of nature’s contributions to people under global environmental change.…”

“…Consequently, we have only a rudimentary understanding of the vulnerability of many, perhaps all, ecosystem services to species loss 8 , 12 , 21 – 23 . Certainly, different services vary in their vulnerability 24 , but we lack general rules that might explain these differences.…”

Mapping trait versus species turnover reveals spatiotemporal variation in functional redundancy in a plant-pollinator network

“…Although commonly assumed in stepwise-extinction approaches (e.g. Classen et al ., 2020; Keyes et al ., 2021), this is unlikely in real communities (Brosi & Briggs, 2013; Bramon Mora et al ., 2020). However, the lack of plant functional-trait data precluded predictions about which individuals would be sufficiently compatible in their traits to predict rewiring.…”

Effectiveness of protection areas in safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem services in Tibet Autonomous Region

“…However, a great need exists to evaluate the spatial distribution and conservation effectiveness of protected areas in Tibet Autonomous Region 13 . Identification of key areas of ecosystem services and biodiversity will allow the establishment of new targeted ecological restoration areas, and the reduction of environmental degradation 14 . In this study, we focused on areas which protect biodiversity and ensure the security of ecosystem services.…”