Coexistence theory as a tool to understand biological invasions in species interaction networks: Implications for the study of novel ecosystems

Abstract

Questions related to understanding which characteristics of the recipient communities make them vulnerable to invasion (i.e. invasibility) are commonly formulated in such a way that they consider ecological communities as whole entities. Yet, species within recipient communities have specific responses to the introduction of exotic species. As a consequence, little is known about the role of species interaction networks within and between trophic levels in determining the invasion likelihood of exotics introduced in previously uninvaded communities and the temporal dynamics of invaded communities. To obtain a mature understanding of invasion processes and their impacts, I propose here to apply a structural stability approach of species coexistence to the field of biological invasions. The main aim here is to distinguish how direct and indirect species’ responses to invasion in competitive and trophic networks translate to the mechanisms determining the maintenance and stability of species diversity in multispecies and multitrophic assemblages. This approach brings the further opportunity to integrate the field of biological invasions within a broader perspective about the study of novel ecosystems, that is, ecosystems that contain exotic species and face new introductions sometimes under abrupt environmental changes. Moreover, it can help to target specific mechanisms separating winners from losers in novel ecosystems. Synthesis. A solid framework to predict biological invasions and understand community assembly along temporal scales under novel ecosystems can be obtained by framing species’ responses to invasion within recent theoretical and methodological advances stemming from coexistence theory, which seeks to determine how diversity is maintained. A plain language summary is available for this article.

The assembly and importance of a novel ecosystem: The ant community of coffee farms in Puerto Rico

“…Novel ecosystems present an opportunity that has been common yet rarely recognized in the field of ecology; the opportunity to study how “not‐necessarily‐coevolved” organisms come together and structure an ecological community (Evers et al., 2018; Godoy, 2019; Hobbs et al., 2006; Hobbs, Higgs, & Harris, 2009; Perfecto & Vandermeer, 2015). Our ability to understand these new systems is a test of the extent to which we understand the natural laws that determine community and ecosystem structure (Perfecto & Vandermeer, 2015).…”

Partial decoupling between exotic fish and habitat constraints remains evident in late invasion stages

“…Our results also highlighted the importance of extending the analysis from taxonomical to functional diversity, when attempting to address the complexity of species interactions in invaded communities (see e.g. Colin et al 2018;Godoy 2019;Trivellone et al 2014). We thus advocate for a wider use of ecofunctional approaches in the future to evaluate the consequences of exotic species invasions (Griffiths and Harris 2010;Loiola et al 2018;Schlaepfer et al 2011), and consequently when drafting conservation and management plans aimed at preserving native biodiversity from exotic invasions.…”

Patterns of association of native and exotic boring polychaetes on the southeastern Pacific coast of Chile: the combined importance of negative, positive and random interactions

“…Coexistence may be a frequent result of interactions between native and exotic species, although perhaps less apparent than competitive exclusion. In this sense, the probabilistic point-of-view used in this study also provides a statistical tool for evaluating coexistence as a result of invasive and native species interactions, an idea which has been proposed in invasion ecology, but largely lacks empirical support and methodologies for detecting underlying mechanisms (Godoy, 2019).…”