Inferring local ecological processes amid species pool influences

Jean-Philippe Lessard; Jonathan Belmaker; Jonathan A. Myers; Jonathan M. Chase; Carsten Rahbek

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2012.07.006

Inferring local ecological processes amid species pool influences

Jean-Philippe Lessard, Jonathan Belmaker, Jonathan A. Myers, Jonathan M. Chase, Carsten Rahbek

Ecology and Evolution

132 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Resolving contingencies in community ecology requires comparative studies of local communities along broad-scale environmental gradients and in different biogeographic regions. However, comparisons of local ecological processes among regions require a synthetic understanding of how the species pool of potential community members influences the structure of ecological communities. Here, we outline an integrative approach for quantifying local ecological processes while explicitly accounting for species pool influences. Specifically, we highlight the utility of combining geographically replicated local studies, null models of community structure, and ecologically explicit definitions of the species pool as a means to compare predominant ecological processes among regions. By uniting concepts and tools from community ecology and macroecology, this approach might facilitate synthesis and resolve many perceived ecological contingencies.

Original language	English
Journal	Trends in Ecology & Evolution
Volume	27
Issue number	11
Pages (from-to)	600-607
Number of pages	8
ISSN	0169-5347
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2012.07.006
Publication status	Published - Nov 2012

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10.1016/j.tree.2012.07.006

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016953471200167X

Cite this

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title = "Inferring local ecological processes amid species pool influences",

abstract = "Resolving contingencies in community ecology requires comparative studies of local communities along broad-scale environmental gradients and in different biogeographic regions. However, comparisons of local ecological processes among regions require a synthetic understanding of how the species pool of potential community members influences the structure of ecological communities. Here, we outline an integrative approach for quantifying local ecological processes while explicitly accounting for species pool influences. Specifically, we highlight the utility of combining geographically replicated local studies, null models of community structure, and ecologically explicit definitions of the species pool as a means to compare predominant ecological processes among regions. By uniting concepts and tools from community ecology and macroecology, this approach might facilitate synthesis and resolve many perceived ecological contingencies.",

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AU - Lessard, Jean-Philippe

AU - Belmaker, Jonathan

AU - Myers, Jonathan A.

AU - Chase, Jonathan M.

AU - Rahbek, Carsten

PY - 2012/11

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N2 - Resolving contingencies in community ecology requires comparative studies of local communities along broad-scale environmental gradients and in different biogeographic regions. However, comparisons of local ecological processes among regions require a synthetic understanding of how the species pool of potential community members influences the structure of ecological communities. Here, we outline an integrative approach for quantifying local ecological processes while explicitly accounting for species pool influences. Specifically, we highlight the utility of combining geographically replicated local studies, null models of community structure, and ecologically explicit definitions of the species pool as a means to compare predominant ecological processes among regions. By uniting concepts and tools from community ecology and macroecology, this approach might facilitate synthesis and resolve many perceived ecological contingencies.

AB - Resolving contingencies in community ecology requires comparative studies of local communities along broad-scale environmental gradients and in different biogeographic regions. However, comparisons of local ecological processes among regions require a synthetic understanding of how the species pool of potential community members influences the structure of ecological communities. Here, we outline an integrative approach for quantifying local ecological processes while explicitly accounting for species pool influences. Specifically, we highlight the utility of combining geographically replicated local studies, null models of community structure, and ecologically explicit definitions of the species pool as a means to compare predominant ecological processes among regions. By uniting concepts and tools from community ecology and macroecology, this approach might facilitate synthesis and resolve many perceived ecological contingencies.

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JO - Trends in Ecology & Evolution

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