Facilitation and the niche: implications for coexistence, range shifts and ecosystem functioning

Abstract

Summary 1.Viewing facilitation through the lens of the niche concept is one way to unify conceptual and empirical advances about the role of facilitation in community ecology. 2. We clarify conceptually and through examples from marine and terrestrial environments how facilitation can expand species' niches and consider how these interactions can be scaled up to understand the importance of facilitation in setting a species' geographic range. We then integrate the niche-broadening influence of facilitation into current conceptual areas in ecology, including climate change, diversity maintenance and the relationship between diversity and ecosystem functioning. 3. Because facilitation can influence the range of physical conditions under which a species can persist, it has the potential to mitigate the effects of climate change on species distributions. Whereas facilitation has mostly been considered as a diversity-promoting interaction by ameliorating abiotic stresses, if facilitated species' niches expand and become less distinct as a result of habitat amelioration, the forces that maintain diversity and promote coexistence in regions or habitats dominated by the facilitator could be reduced (i.e. the sign of the effects of facilitation on populations could be species-specific). Finally, shifting or broadening ecological niches could alter the relationship between diversity and ecosystem functioning. 4. A niche-based perspective on the effects of facilitation can foster a greater mechanistic understanding of the role played by facilitation in regulating species coexistence, range shifts and ecosystem functioning in a changing world.

Using niche breadth theory to explain generalization in mutualisms

“…Compared to no association, mutualism can expand a population's niche along other axes (Bruno et al 2003, Poisot et al 2011, Bulleri et al 2016, such as when endophytes increase host drought tolerance (Afkhami et al 2014b). Compared to no association, mutualism can expand a population's niche along other axes (Bruno et al 2003, Poisot et al 2011, Bulleri et al 2016, such as when endophytes increase host drought tolerance (Afkhami et al 2014b).…”

Intraspecific genetic variation and species coexistence in plant communities

“…However, a few theoretical studies also include facilitative interactions [13][14][15][16]. These models predict that, under some conditions, facilitation can maintain species-rich communities.…”

Biotic interactions enhance survival and fitness in the caddisfly Micropterna sequax (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae)

“…It has been found that Chironomidae often display commensalistic interactions to increase their feeding opportunity, mobility, protection from disturbance and reduce predation risk (Tokeshi, 1993;Callisto et al, 2006), but this entails interactions with other orders of aquatic invertebrates. Within-class commensalism has not been found or described for many aquatic invertebrates, yet could have a large explanatory value when it comes to niche expansion and range shifts (Bulleri et al, 2016).…”

“…The positive effect of an interaction, also known as facilitation, is seen as a key mechanism in which species diversity positively affects ecosystem processes and functioning (Mulder et al, 2001;Stachowicz & Byrnes, 2006;Bulleri et al, 2016). A study by Cardinale et al (2002) showed that multiple species from the same functional feeding guild (aquatic suspension-feeders) enhanced each other's feeding success by decelerating the flow from upstream to downstream neighbours.…”