Towards an applied metaecology

The complexity of ecological systems is a major challenge for practitioners and decision-makers who work to avoid, mitigate and manage environmental change. Here, we illustrate how metaecology - the study of spatial interdependencies among ecological systems through fluxes of organisms, energy, and matter - can enhance understanding and improve managing environmental change at multiple spatial scales. We present several case studies illustrating how the framework has leveraged decision-making in conservation, restoration and risk management. Nevertheless, an explicit incorporation of metaecology is still uncommon in the applied ecology literature, and in action guidelines addressing environmental change. This is unfortunate because the many facets of environmental change can be framed as modifying spatial context, connectedness and dominant regulating processes - the defining features of metaecological systems. Narrowing the gap between theory and practice will require incorporating system-specific realism in otherwise predominantly conceptual studies, as well as deliberately studying scenarios of environmental change. (C) 2019 Associacao Brasileira de Ciencia Ecologica e Conservacao. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.Peer reviewe

Global Patterns and Controls of Nutrient Immobilization On Decomposing Cellulose In Riverine Ecosystems

Microbes play a critical role in plant litter decomposition and influence the fate of carbon in rivers and riparian zones. When decomposing low-nutrient plant litter, microbes acquire nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from the environment (i.e., nutrient immobilization), and this process is potentially sensitive to nutrient loading and changing climate. Nonetheless, environmental controls on immobilization are poorly understood because rates are also influenced by plant litter chemistry, which is coupled to the same environmental factors. Here we used a standardized, low-nutrient organic matter substrate (cotton strips) to quantify nutrient immobilization at 100 paired stream and riparian sites representing 11 biomes worldwide. Immobilization rates varied by three orders of magnitude, were greater in rivers than riparian zones, and were strongly correlated to decomposition rates. In rivers, P immobilization rates were controlled by surface water phosphate concentrations, but N immobilization rates were not related to inorganic N. The N:P of immobilized nutrients was tightly constrained to a molar ratio of 10:1 despite wide variation in surface water N:P. Immobilization rates were temperature-dependent in riparian zones but not related to temperature in rivers. However, in rivers nutrient supply ultimately controlled whether microbes could achieve the maximum expected decomposition rate at a given temperature

De horizontale verantwoording na het pgb-alarm

<p>*Coyote arrived on the island of Newfoundland through natural range expansion in 1985.</p>φ<p>From <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0106264#pone.0106264-Department1" target="_blank">[42]</a>, except southern red-backed vole <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0106264#pone.0106264-Hearn1" target="_blank">[66]</a>.</p>α<p>See <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0106264#pone.0106264-Strong1" target="_blank">[53]</a> for full details on data.</p>F1<p>Herbivores and insectivores without predators (<i>F₁</i> functional group).</p>F2<p>Herbivores and insectivores with predators (<i>F₂</i> functional group).</p>F3<p>Predators (<i>F₃</i> functional group).</p><p>Non-native and transient terrestrial mammals on the island of Newfoundland with sources for dietary data used in our study.</p

Effects of non-native mammal functional groups on food web properties.

<p>Change in Newfoundland terrestrial mammal food web properties for the removal of native vs non-native species of herbivores and insectivores without predators (<i>F₁</i>), herbivores and insectivores with predators (<i>F₂</i>), and predators (<i>F₃</i>). See methods for specific definitions of <i>F₁</i>, <i>F₂</i>, and <i>F₃</i>.</p

Island of Newfoundland.

<p>Map of the island of Newfoundland with a map of Canada inset.</p

Effects of non-native mammals on food web properties.

<p>Change in terrestrial mammal food web properties with the sequential addition of non-native species on the island of Newfoundland. The native food web has 30 species and every point after this represents the addition of one non-native species added in chronological order (see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0106264#pone-0106264-t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a>).</p

Trophic rewilding can expand natural climate solutions

Natural climate solutions are being advanced to arrest climate warming by protecting and enhancing carbon capture and storage in plants, soils and sediments in ecosystems. These solutions are viewed as having the ancillary benefit of protecting habitats and landscapes to conserve animal species diversity. However, this reasoning undervalues the role animals play in controlling the carbon cycle. We present scientific evidence showing that protecting and restoring wild animals and their functional roles can enhance natural carbon capture and storage. We call for new thinking that includes the restoration and conservation of wild animals and their ecosystem roles as a key component of natural climate solutions that can enhance the ability to prevent climate warming beyond 1.5 °C

Global patterns and controls of nutrient immobilization on decomposing cellulose in riverine ecosystems

Abstract Microbes play a critical role in plant litter decomposition and influence the fate of carbon in rivers and riparian zones. When decomposing low-nutrient plant litter, microbes acquire nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from the environment (i.e., nutrient immobilization), and this process is potentially sensitive to nutrient loading and changing climate. Nonetheless, environmental controls on immobilization are poorly understood because rates are also influenced by plant litter chemistry, which is coupled to the same environmental factors. Here we used a standardized, low-nutrient organic matter substrate (cotton strips) to quantify nutrient immobilization at 100 paired stream and riparian sites representing 11 biomes worldwide. Immobilization rates varied by three orders of magnitude, were greater in rivers than riparian zones, and were strongly correlated to decomposition rates. In rivers, P immobilization rates were controlled by surface water phosphate concentrations, but N immobilization rates were not related to inorganic N. The N:P of immobilized nutrients was tightly constrained to a molar ratio of 10:1 despite wide variation in surface water N:P. Immobilization rates were temperature-dependent in riparian zones but not related to temperature in rivers. However, in rivers nutrient supply ultimately controlled whether microbes could achieve the maximum expected decomposition rate at a given temperature. Collectively, we demonstrated that exogenous nutrient supply and immobilization are critical control points for decomposition of organic matter

Global patterns and drivers of ecosystem functioning in rivers and riparian zones

Abstract River ecosystems receive and process vast quantities of terrestrial organic carbon, the fate of which depends strongly on microbial activity. Variation in and controls of processing rates, however, are poorly characterized at the global scale. In response, we used a peer-sourced research network and a highly standardized carbon processing assay to conduct a global-scale field experiment in greater than 1000 river and riparian sites. We found that Earth’s biomes have distinct carbon processing signatures. Slow processing is evident across latitudes, whereas rapid rates are restricted to lower latitudes. Both the mean rate and variability decline with latitude, suggesting temperature constraints toward the poles and greater roles for other environmental drivers (e.g., nutrient loading) toward the equator. These results and data set the stage for unprecedented “next-generation biomonitoring” by establishing baselines to help quantify environmental impacts to the functioning of ecosystems at a global scale