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doi: 10.1007/s12080-018-0403-2pmid: N/A
We revisit a seminal paper by Levin (Am Nat 108:207–228, 1974), where spatially mediated coexistence and spatial pattern formation were described. We do so by reviewing and explaining the mathematical tools used to evaluate the dynamics of ecological systems in space, from the perspective of recent developments in spatial population dynamics. We stress the importance of space-mediated stability for the coexistence of competing species and explore the ecological consequences of space-induced instabilities (Turing instabilities) for spatial pattern formation in predator–prey systems. Throughout, we link existing theory to recent developments in discrete spatially structured metapopulations, such as our understanding of how ecological dynamics occurring on a network can be analyzed using the Laplacian matrix and its associated eigenvalue spectrum. We underline the validity of Levin’s message, over 40 years later, and suggest it has ever-growing implications in a changing and increasingly fragmented world.
doi: 10.1007/s12080-019-0418-3pmid: N/A
The article Laplacian matrices and Turing bifurcations: revisiting Levin 1974 and the consequences of spatial structure and movement for ecological dynamics, written by Jean P. Gibert and Justin D. Yeakel, was originally published electronically on the publisher’s internet portal
Lin, Hsien-Yung; Robinson, Kelly
doi: 10.1007/s12080-018-0405-0pmid: N/A
Connection between critical habitats is an important consideration in efforts to restore native and socio-economically important fish species or control the spread of invasive species. However, differences in fish life history might influence the effectiveness of restoration and management actions. In addition, the strength of connection among spatially separate subpopulations could affect the response of the overall population to a local environmental change. In this study, we modeled the response of migratory fish populations with different homing rates, straying distances, and reproductive modes (iteroparity and semelparity) to changes in the carrying capacity of spawning/nursery grounds in a lake-stream system. Increasing the carrying capacity of one spawning/nursery ground could increase the abundance of the local subpopulation and overall population, but both short-term (i.e., abundance change in the first 20 years) and long-term (i.e., equilibrium abundance) responses varied with life history traits. Furthermore, the abundance of some subpopulations might decrease because of the movement of straying adults toward more productive spawning/nursery grounds. In general, straying distance influenced the short-term response and spatial pattern of the population while homing rate influenced the equilibrium abundance. This study revealed the effect of life history traits on population response to restoration actions, which may be crucial for managers in charge of multi-species management, such as enhancing native fishes while controlling invasive species.
doi: 10.1007/s12080-018-0406-zpmid: N/A
Some ant species are specialised parasites that invade the nests of other ants and steal their food, larvae, and eggs. To be successful, they must evade detection by patrolling hosts who attack invaders. Ants distinguish invaders from individuals of their own nest through the cuticular hydrocarbon profile, as their nestmates have a similar mixture of coating chemicals. To circumvent this, some parasites adopt mimicry, using a mixture of chemicals that has a similar composition to that of their hosts, whilst others adopt crypsis, with a reduced amount of chemicals. Here, we develop a mathematical model to describe the conditions under which each of these strategies evolves, assuming that the parasites and hosts are ants with their own colonies. Host ants distinguish their nestmates from parasites through differences in their chemical traits, which are represented in multi-dimensional space. Parasitic ants engage in competition with other conspecific colonies, which is more intense between colonies with similar chemical traits, jeopardising the advantage of cryptic parasites. We then define parasites’ fitness with respect to chemical profiles and discuss the evolution of their chemical strategies. Cryptic parasites evolve when competition among colonies is weak, when many types of host colonies exist, and when host recognition accuracy is high. Mimetic parasites evolve under the opposite conditions.
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