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Environmental change makes robust ecological networks fragile

Author

Listed:
  • Giovanni Strona

    (European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability)

  • Kevin D. Lafferty

    (US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center c/o Marine Science Institute, University of California)

Abstract

Complex ecological networks appear robust to primary extinctions, possibly due to consumers’ tendency to specialize on dependable (available and persistent) resources. However, modifications to the conditions under which the network has evolved might alter resource dependability. Here, we ask whether adaptation to historical conditions can increase community robustness, and whether such robustness can protect communities from collapse when conditions change. Using artificial life simulations, we first evolved digital consumer-resource networks that we subsequently subjected to rapid environmental change. We then investigated how empirical host–parasite networks would respond to historical, random and expected extinction sequences. In both the cases, networks were far more robust to historical conditions than new ones, suggesting that new environmental challenges, as expected under global change, might collapse otherwise robust natural ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Strona & Kevin D. Lafferty, 2016. "Environmental change makes robust ecological networks fragile," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12462
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12462
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    Cited by:

    1. Runtan Cheng & Lu Wang & Shenglong Le & Yifan Yang & Can Zhao & Xiangqi Zhang & Xin Yang & Ting Xu & Leiting Xu & Petri Wiklund & Jun Ge & Dajiang Lu & Chenhong Zhang & Luonan Chen & Sulin Cheng, 2022. "A randomized controlled trial for response of microbiome network to exercise and diet intervention in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Giovanni Strona & Pieter S. A. Beck & Mar Cabeza & Simone Fattorini & François Guilhaumon & Fiorenza Micheli & Simone Montano & Otso Ovaskainen & Serge Planes & Joseph A. Veech & Valeriano Parravicini, 2021. "Ecological dependencies make remote reef fish communities most vulnerable to coral loss," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Andrzej Skwierawski, 2022. "Carbon Sequestration Potential in the Restoration of Highly Eutrophic Shallow Lakes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Liu, Xiaoqian & Bearup, Daniel & Liao, Jinbao, 2022. "Metacommunity robustness to invasion in mutualistic and antagonistic networks," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 468(C).

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