Trophic networks: How do theories link ecosystem structure and functioning to stability properties? A review

Saint-Béat, Blanche; Baird, Dugald; Asmus, Harald; Asmus, Ragnhild; Bacher, Cédric; Pacella, Stephen R.; Johnson, Galen A.; David, Valérie; Vézina, Alain F.; Niquil, Nathalie

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.12.017

Cited by 152 publications

(114 citation statements)

References 141 publications

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“…A new frontier in the trophic interaction studies is the analysis of complex ecological networks, which combine qualitative and quantitative characters, in order to identify, from a holistic approach, those ecological properties that are not evident through direct observation or not even through the sum of its parts [1,2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, the CNT has been increasingly accepted in ecological studies over the last 17 years, and its development is fast and consistent [10], being a robust tool for ecosystem stability analysis, with possible applications in biodiversity and conservation [11], and as an indicator of the ecosystem health [1]. This high diversity of applications shows its universality and makes possible the comparison between structural differences between networks, even between different knowledge areas and different variables that because of their different origin, they cannot be analyzed by conventional methods, a fact that is well recognized as one of the advantages of this methodology [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, ecosystem studies have focused on elucidating the relationship that exists between their biotic and abiotic elements, beyond an isolated interpretation of the population dynamics of the different species that compose them [1]. A new frontier in the trophic interaction studies is the analysis of complex ecological networks, which combine qualitative and quantitative characters, in order to identify, from a holistic approach, those ecological properties that are not evident through direct observation or not even through the sum of its parts [1,2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Heavy metal biomagnification and genotoxic damage in two trophic levels exposed to mine tailings: a network theory approach

Cervantes-Ramírez¹,

Ramírez-López²,

Mussali-Galante³

et al. 2018

Rev. Chil. de Hist. Nat.

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Background: The analysis of the negative effects of environmental metal pollution is complex and difficult to assess, because the great number of variables and levels of biological organization involved. Therefore, an integral interpretation of the structure of ecological interactions from the multifactorial toxicological vision can be achieved by the use of new analysis tools, such as the complex network theory analysis (CNT). Results: Our results demonstrated that the trophic level has an effect on metal enrichment, being the detritivores who presented the highest bioaccumulation levels in comparison to plants, as well as higher biomagnification levels in the soil-plant-detritivores relationship. Also, Vachellia farnesiana displayed greater sensitivity to genotoxic damage than Eisenia fetida. Finally, the analysis of complex networks showed that detritivores are the key link in this dynamics, on which the interactions between heavy metals, plant and detritivores depend. Conclusions: This study shows that there is an effect of the study site on heavy metal bioaccumulation and DNA damage induction, and that these responses are particular to each species and to each bioaccumulated metal, which in turn reveals specific sensitivity for each trophic level. Moreover, the application of CNT methodology allowed us to clarify in this particular system, the interaction types and the principal components of the trophic structure.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Heavy metal biomagnification and genotoxic damage in two trophic levels exposed to mine tailings: a network theory approach

Cervantes-Ramírez¹,

Ramírez-López²,

Mussali-Galante³

et al. 2018

Rev. Chil. de Hist. Nat.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Networks articulating species composition and interactions are useful when research questions focus on the responses of interacting species or species groups (Ings et al 2009, Saint-Bé at et al 2015, such as using trophic networks to predict the responses of native fauna to cat eradication on Christmas Island, or using pollination networks (mutualistic networks) to predict the responses of pollinators and native plants to alien plant removal (Carvalheiro et al 2008a). However, these approaches may have limited use when decision-making is concerned with broader, ecosystem-level responses.…”

Section: Predicting and Evaluating The Outcomes Of Invasive Species Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using the topological properties of systems (how species connect to each other in a network), ecological modellers have examined, theoretically and empirically, network robustness against perturbations and used network metrics to understand what makes a system robust to perturbation (e.g. network connectance and nestedness) (Proulx et al 2005, Tylianakis et al 2010, Saint-Bé at et al 2015. In conservation biology, network analysis has been applied to species deletions to investigate the impact of extinctions on secondary extinction in a system (Proulx et al 2005, Tylianakis et al 2010.…”

Section: Predicting and Evaluating The Outcomes Of Invasive Species Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem-wide management of invasive species in the face of severe uncertainty

Han¹

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The economic and ecological problems caused by biological invasions underline the importance of invasive species management. Evidence showed that invasive species management aiming to mitigate and reverse negative invasion impacts may lead to unexpected side effects to other ecosystem components, which call for integrating management into broader ecosystem goals rather than manipulating single invasive species in isolation. Decision-making is limited by a severe lack of knowledge yet confronted with urgent needs of conservation management. In this thesis, I focus on developing practical approaches to assist decision-making of invasive species managements in the face of limited information.It can be challenging to resolve the conflicts between invasive species management and other conservation goals. In Chapter 2, I propose to incorporate potential management impacts into a formal decision analysis from a cost-benefit perspective. I conduct a systematic literature review of studies that reported perverse outcomes of invasive plant management, to provide insights for risk identification for future control activities. My results show that there are only 26 publications that identified negative outcomes from plant management. It is possible that such perverse outcomes are merely uncommon, yet we identify that research and publishing biases exist and suggest that the negative impacts of management may have been overlooked. Next, I discuss existing and potential approaches that can be used to identify management risks and reconcile management conflicts, and suggest ways to improve current approaches and facilitate better decision analyses for future management. In the following chapters, I illustrate a number of approaches to assist invasive species management decision-making and illustrate these approaches using two real world management problems.Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 use network approaches to inform decision-making on the management of introduced cats (Felis catus) and rats (Rattus rattus) on Christmas Island. In chapter 3, I conduct a qualitative assessment based on available information to evaluate a number of potential management strategies, which vary in their intensity of both rat and cat control and also vary in cost of implementation. These actions were derived in consultation with on-ground managers from Christmas Island. The assessment suggests that given sufficient resources the optimal strategy is island wide cat eradication with rat control efforts. This suggestion is also supported by the network analysis. Island-wide cat eradication only may lead to secondary impacts through meso-predator release of rats, yet when the resource is limited this strategy still yields more benefits than other management actions such as island-wide cat control, or cat and rat control that are restricted in specific regions.ii In Chapter 4, I developed a novel approach by combining a qualitative modelling approach with Boolean analysis to examine the effects of different management strategies of cats and rats on Ch...

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