Ecosystem Function

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew P. Hendry
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Relative Strength ◽  
Intraspecific Diversity ◽  
Empirical Methods ◽  
Ecosystem Level ◽  
Key Questions

This chapter explores how the mathematical frameworks, empirical methods, and predictions introduced for community structure can be extended to ecosystem function. Also outlined is an alternative conceptual framework (biological stoichiometry) for evaluating eco-evolutionary dynamics at the ecosystem level. The key questions in this analysis include the importance of intraspecific diversity, the relative strength of the various effects, on what time scales do the effects play out, and to what extent are the effects direct or indirect. The chapter also addresses whether the effects of genotypes decrease toward higher levels of complexity (from phenotypes to communities to ecosystems), and to what extent feedbacks are evident-traits influence ecosystems which then influence traits.

Ecosystems processes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen J. Esler ◽  
Anna L. Jacobsen ◽  
R. Brandon Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Mineral Nutrients ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Ecosystem Level ◽  
Key Drivers ◽  
And Function ◽  
Mediterranean Type Ecosystems

Ecosystems are assemblages of organisms interacting with one another and their environment (Chapter 1). Key to the functioning of ecosystems is the flow of energy, carbon, mineral nutrients, and water in these systems. The numerous processes involved are chiefly driven by climate, soil, and fire (Chapter 2). In cases where the key drivers are the same in different areas, then ecosystems should converge in their structure and function, which has been a motivation for comparing across mediterranean-type climate (MTC) regions. Convergence of MTC regions has been evaluated, but such comparisons at the ecosystem level are challenging because ecosystems are complex and dynamic entities. Here we review carbon, nutrient, and water dynamics of mediterranean-type ecosystems in the context of ecosystem function. As nutrients in soils are low in some MTC regions, we review how this has led to unique adaptations to meet this challenge.

scholarly journals Microbes as Engines of Ecosystem Function: When Does Community Structure Enhance Predictions of Ecosystem Processes?

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily B. Graham ◽  
Joseph E. Knelman ◽  
Andreas Schindlbacher ◽  
Steven Siciliano ◽  
Marc Breulmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Ecosystem Processes

scholarly journals Rare microbes from diverse Earth biomes dominate community activity

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan Sachdeva ◽  
Barbara J. Campbell ◽  
John F. Heidelberg
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Total Activity ◽  
Reaction Rates ◽  
Community Activity ◽  
Crucial Component ◽  
Tightly Coupled ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractMicrobes are the Earth’s most numerous organisms and are instrumental in driving major global biological and chemical processes. Microbial activity is a crucial component of all ecosystems, as microbes have the potential to control any major biochemical process. In recent years, considerable strides have been made in describing the community structure,i.e. diversity and abundance, of microbes from the Earth’s major biomes. In virtually all environments studied, a few highly abundant taxa dominate the structure of microbial communities. Still, microbial diversity is high and is concentrated in the less abundant, or rare, fractions of the community,i.e. the “long tail” of the abundance distribution. The relationship between microbial community structure and activity, specifically the role of rare microbes, and its connection to ecosystem function, is not fully understood. We analyzed 12.3 million metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequence assemblies and their genes from environmental, human, and engineered microbiomes, and show that microbial activity is dominated by rare microbes (96% of total activity) across all measured biomes. Further, rare microbial activity was comprised of traits that are fundamental to ecosystem and organismal health,e.g. biogeochemical cycling and infectious disease. The activity of rare microbes was also tightly coupled to temperature, revealing a link between basic biological processes,e.g. reaction rates, and community activity. Our study provides a broadly applicable and predictable paradigm that implicates rare microbes as the main microbial drivers of ecosystem function and organismal health.

scholarly journals Defining Microbiome Health through a Host Lens

mSystems ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean M. Gibbons
Keyword(s):  
Complex System ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Mental State ◽  
Human Disease ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Commensal Microbiota ◽  
Ecosystem Level ◽  
Health And Disease

ABSTRACT We are walking ecosystems, inoculated at birth with a unique set of microbes that are integral to the functioning of our bodies. The physiology of our commensal microbiota is intertwined with our metabolism, immune function, and mental state. The specifics of this entanglement remain largely unknown and are somewhat unique to individuals, and when any one piece of this complex system breaks, our health can suffer. There appear to be many ways to build a healthy, functional microbiome and several distinct ways in which it can break. Despite the hundreds of associations with human disease, there are only a handful of cases where the exact contribution of the microbiome to the etiology of disease is known. Our laboratory takes a systems approach, integrating dynamic high-throughput host phenotyping with eco-evolutionary dynamics and metabolism of gut microbiota to better define health and disease for each individual at the ecosystem level.

scholarly journals Molecular Evolutionary Dynamics of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Group A in Recurrent Epidemics in Coastal Kenya

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (10) ◽  
pp. 4990-5002 ◽  
Author(s):  
James R. Otieno ◽  
Charles N. Agoti ◽  
Caroline W. Gitahi ◽  
Ann Bett ◽  
Mwanajuma Ngama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Nucleotide Substitutions ◽  
High Genetic Diversity ◽  
Data Set ◽  
New Variant ◽  
Syncytial Virus ◽  
Highest Posterior Density

ABSTRACTThe characteristic recurrent epidemics of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) within communities may result from the genetic variability of the virus and associated evolutionary adaptation, reducing the efficiency of preexisting immune responses. We analyzed the molecular evolutionary changes in the attachment (G) glycoprotein of RSV-A viruses collected over 13 epidemic seasons (2000 to 2012) in Kilifi (n= 649), Kenya, and contemporaneous sequences (n= 1,131) collected elsewhere within Kenya and 28 other countries. Genetic diversity in the G gene in Kilifi was dynamic both within and between epidemics, characterized by frequent new variant introductions and limited variant persistence between consecutive epidemics. Four RSV-A genotypes were detected in Kilifi: ON1 (11.9%), GA2 (75.5%), GA5 (12.3%), and GA3 (0.3%), with predominant genotype replacement of GA5 by GA2 and then GA2 by ON1. Within these genotypes, there was considerable variation in potentialN-glycosylation sites, with GA2 and ON1 viruses showing up to 15 different patterns involving eight possible sites. Further, we identified 15 positively selected and 34 genotype-distinguishing codon sites, with six of these sites exhibiting both characteristics. The mean substitution rate of the G ectodomain for the Kilifi data set was estimated at 3.58 × 10−3(95% highest posterior density interval = 3.04 to 4.16) nucleotide substitutions/site/year. Kilifi viruses were interspersed in the global phylogenetic tree, clustering mostly with Kenyan and European sequences. Our findings highlight ongoing genetic evolution and high diversity of circulating RSV-A strains, locally and globally, with potential antigenic differences. Taken together, these provide a possible explanation on the nature of recurrent local RSV epidemics.IMPORTANCEThe mechanisms underlying recurrent epidemics of RSV are poorly understood. We observe high genetic diversity in circulating strains within and between epidemics in both local and global settings. On longer time scales (∼7 years) there is sequential replacement of genotypes, whereas on shorter time scales (one epidemic to the next or within epidemics) there is a high turnover of variants within genotypes. Further, this genetic diversity is predicted to be associated with variation in antigenic profiles. These observations provide an explanation for recurrent RSV epidemics and have potential implications on the long-term effectiveness of vaccines.

scholarly journals Eco-evolutionary dynamics in plants: interactive processes at overlapping time-scales and their implications

2015 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 789-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard P. Shefferson ◽  
Roberto Salguero-Gómez
Keyword(s):  
Time Scales ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics

scholarly journals Eco-evolutionary partitioning metrics: a practical guide for biologists

2018 ◽  
Vol 148 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn Govaert
Keyword(s):  
Time Scales ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Detailed Comparison ◽  
Reaction Norm ◽  
Evolutionary Change ◽  
Evolutionary Processes ◽  
Similar Time ◽  
Practical Guide ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Community Data

It is well-known that ecological and evolutionary processes can occur on similar time scales resulting in eco-evolutionary dynamics. One of the main questions in eco-evolutionary dynamics involves the assessment of the relative contribution of evolution, ecology and their interaction in the eco-evolutionary change under study. This has led to the development of several methods aimed to quantify the contributions of ecology and evolution to observed trait change, here referred to as eco-evolutionary partitioning metrics. This study provides an overview on currently-used partitioning metrics with a focus on methods that can quantify evolutionary and non-evolutionary contributions to population and community trait change. I highlight key differences between these metrics found in previous studies. Additionally, I also provide a detailed comparison between the ‘Geber’ method and the reaction norm approach. Next, I provide a guideline for researchers to assess which metrics are best suited for their data, give an overview on the type of data needed for these metrics, and how this data can be collected with a focus on community data.

scholarly journals Linking Terrestrial and Aquatic Biodiversity to Ecosystem Function Across Scales, Trophic Levels, and Realms

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyla M. Dahlin ◽  
Phoebe L. Zarnetske ◽  
Quentin D. Read ◽  
Laura A. Twardochleb ◽  
Aaron G. Kamoske ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Relative Strength ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Aquatic Biodiversity ◽  
Patterns And Processes ◽  
The Impact

Global declines in biodiversity have the potential to affect ecosystem function, and vice versa, in both terrestrial and aquatic ecological realms. While many studies have considered biodiversity-ecosystem function (BEF) relationships at local scales within single realms, there is a critical need for more studies examining BEF linkages among ecological realms, across scales, and across trophic levels. We present a framework linking abiotic attributes, productivity, and biodiversity across terrestrial and inland aquatic realms. We review examples of the major ways that BEF linkages form across realms–cross-system subsidies, ecosystem engineering, and hydrology. We then formulate testable hypotheses about the relative strength of these connections across spatial scales, realms, and trophic levels. While some studies have addressed these hypotheses individually, to holistically understand and predict the impact of biodiversity loss on ecosystem function, researchers need to move beyond local and simplified systems and explicitly investigate cross-realm and trophic interactions and large-scale patterns and processes. Recent advances in computational power, data synthesis, and geographic information science can facilitate studies spanning multiple ecological realms that will lead to a more comprehensive understanding of BEF connections.

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