Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies

Complementarity of ecosystem types drives landscape-wide productivity in North America

The paper shows that diverse ecosystems in North America are more productive and stable under drought, driven by complementarity among ecosystem types.

Effects of a native, dominant tree, Colophospermum mopane, on diversity of plants, insects, and vertebrates in South African savannas

This study assesses the impact of Colophospermum mopane dominance on biodiversity in South African savannas, finding reduced species richness and community shifts in birds, mammals, and insects.

b3alien: A Python package to assess the introduction rate ofalien species in a FAIR and reproducible way

b3alien is a Python package that estimates invasive alien species introduction rates using FAIR data principles and integrates with GBIF infrastructure to support biodiversity policy monitoring.

A single large restored patch has lower tree diversity than several smaller ones

The paper compares plant diversity in single large habitat patches versus multiple smaller ones of equal total area, finding greater diversity in smaller patches.

Forbs in Viking lands: The effect of disturbing dominant graminoids on forb recruitment in tundra grasslands.

The paper tests if dominant graminoids limit forb recruitment in tundra grasslands by removing them and observing increased forb recruitment.

The mechanistic rules for species coexistence

The paper uses a mechanistic consumer-resource model to predict phytoplankton community composition across resource conditions and species richness, finding that competition for essential resources reduces diversity.

Shortcomings of shortcuts: common species cannot fully explain multiscale patterns of species richness

This study evaluates whether focusing on common species can explain species richness patterns, finding that common species alone are insufficient and rare species are more critical for conservation.

Contrasted effects of human pressure on biodiversity in the UK: a multi-taxonomic assessment using airborne environmental DNA

The paper assesses the impact of human pressure on biodiversity in the UK using airborne environmental DNA, revealing complex patterns in diversity and community composition across taxa.

High co-occurrence of invasive wetland plants and species at risk in Canada's biodiverse Carolinian

The paper identifies invasive wetland plants co-occurring with species at risk in Canada's Carolinian Zone, highlighting urban and coastal areas as priority regions for conservation management.

The phylogenetic Janzen-Connell effect can explain multiple macroecological and macroevolutionary patterns

The paper uses an eco-evolutionary model to show the Janzen-Connell effect can explain macroecological and macroevolutionary patterns by incorporating phylogenetic relatedness and spatial dynamics.

Phylogenetic patterns over sixty-five years of vegetation change across a montane elevation gradient

The paper examines phylogenetic diversity changes in angiosperm communities over 65 years across elevation gradients, finding phylogenetic signals in constancy and elevational shifts and decoupling of diversity aspects in different communities.

Ecological coherence in abundance dynamics across terrestrial and marine assemblages

The paper introduces the Ecological Coherence framework to analyze co-variation in community abundance dynamics across terrestrial and marine assemblages, finding weak correlations and key taxa influencing community responses.

Earthworm invasion reduces above-belowground biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality

This study investigates how earthworm invasion affects biodiversity and ecosystem functioning by analyzing multiple variables and functions across four forests.

Phylogenetic signal dynamics during niche filling in food webs

The paper simulates food web evolution to study how phylogenetic signal in trophic structure changes over time and examines its relationship with species network positions and diversification dynamics.

Neighbor density-dependent facilitation promotescoexistence and internal oscillation

This study shows that varying species interactions based on neighbor density improves ecological predictions and promotes coexistence and oscillation in communities.

Response diversity is a major driver of temporal stability in complex food webs

This study shows response diversity drives community stability in food webs, with food web structure playing a secondary role.

Native community resistance modulates the spread of non-native species along Mediterranean mountain roads under global change

The paper investigates how native community resistance affects the spread of non-native species along Mediterranean mountain roads under global change, finding that native biotic resistance is a strong driver of non-native species occurrence and abundance.

A functional Red List Index for monitoring trends in functional diversity

The paper introduces a functional Red List Index (fRLI) to monitor functional diversity trends by weighting species by morphological uniqueness, finding higher extinction risk for locally unique species.

Global disruption of plant biogeography by non-native species

This study shows non-native species disrupt global plant biogeography by reducing distinct floristic realms and subrealms, with environmental factors remaining key in structuring plant distributions.

Species interactions are internally constrained despite large climatic variability

The paper shows that species interactions are strongly constrained by internal factors despite large climatic variability in annual plants.

Seasonal life-history trade-offs differ between plants derived from seed versus rhizomes in Saponaria officinalis

This study compares growth, reproduction, and survival of seed- and rhizome-origin plants of Saponaria officinalis, finding differences in resource allocation and survival costs of early reproduction.

Experimental community ecology in decline: A call to embrace technology

This paper reviews experimental community ecology research, highlights gaps in taxa and scale, and proposes integrating high-throughput technologies to improve experimental scope and efficiency.

Origin of plant trait data matters: Shared species of Northwestern Europe and the Pannonian Ecoregion have different trait values in the two regions

The paper compares trait values of shared species between Northwestern Europe and the Pannonian Ecoregion, finding significant differences in four traits, highlighting the importance of regional data sources.

Habitat specialisation and dispersal capacity drive rapid carabid beetle responses to urban forest fragmentation

The study examines carabid beetle responses to urban forest fragmentation, finding no extinction debt but rapid shifts in community composition linked to dispersal capacity and habitat specialisation.

Systematic review of biodiversity monitoring shows gradual rise of scaleable and automated methods and inherent spatial and taxonomic biases

This paper reviews biodiversity monitoring methods over 22 years, finding increasing use of scalable techniques but persistent spatial and taxonomic biases.

Aridity Drives Climatic Specialization and Phylogenetic Clustering in Terrestrial Vertebrates

This study assesses how aridity affects climatic niche breadth and phylogenetic structure across terrestrial vertebrates, finding narrower niches and phylogenetic clustering in arid environments.

Long-term homogenization of vascular plant and lichen communities across Fennoscandian heathlands and tundra is connected to the expansion of an allelopathic dwarf shrub

The paper examines long-term changes in plant community composition and diversity in Fennoscandian heathlands and tundra, finding increased homogenization linked to the expansion of Empetrum nigrum.

Macroecological Laws Can Naturally Arise from Chaotic Internal Species Dynamics

The paper shows macroecological laws emerge from chaotic species interactions in spatially heterogeneous communities without external noise.

Tree species natural regeneration in a tidal white-water floodplain forest of the Amazon River estuary

The paper assesses tree species natural regeneration in a tidal white-water floodplain forest, finding high diversity and dominance of a single species.

Delayed effects of water-limiting conditions influence the ramet demography of a native iterocarpic thistle

This study examines how long-term weather variations affect the demographic dynamics of Cirsium undulatum, showing resilience to increased drought under climate change.