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Peller T, Altermatt F. Invasive species drive cross-ecosystem effects worldwide. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:1087-1097. [PMID: 38503866 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02380-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Invasive species are pervasive around the world and have profound impacts on the ecosystem they invade. Invasive species, however, can also have impacts beyond the ecosystem they invade by altering the flow of non-living materials (for example, nutrients or chemicals) or movement of organisms across the boundaries of the invaded ecosystem. Cross-ecosystem interactions via spatial flows are ubiquitous in nature, for example, connecting forests and lakes, grasslands and rivers, and coral reefs and the deep ocean. Yet, we have a limited understanding of the cross-ecosystem impacts invasive species have relative to their local effects. By synthesizing emerging evidence, here we demonstrate the cross-ecosystem impacts of invasive species as a ubiquitous phenomenon that influences biodiversity and ecosystem functioning around the world. We identify three primary ways by which invasive species have cross-ecosystem effects: first, by altering the magnitude of spatial flows across ecosystem boundaries; second, by altering the quality of spatial flows; and third, by introducing novel spatial flows. Ultimately, the strong impacts invasive species can drive across ecosystem boundaries suggests the need for a paradigm shift in how we study and manage invasive species around the world, expanding from a local to a cross-ecosystem perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianna Peller
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
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2
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Allen DC, Larson J, Murphy CA, Garcia EA, Anderson KE, Busch MH, Argerich A, Belskis AM, Higgins KT, Penaluna BE, Saenz V, Jones J, Whiles MR. Global patterns of allochthony in stream-riparian meta-ecosystems. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14401. [PMID: 38468439 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Ecosystems that are coupled by reciprocal flows of energy and nutrient subsidies can be viewed as a single "meta-ecosystem." Despite these connections, the reciprocal flow of subsidies is greatly asymmetrical and seasonally pulsed. Here, we synthesize existing literature on stream-riparian meta-ecosystems to quantify global patterns of the amount of subsidy consumption by organisms, known as "allochthony." These resource flows are important since they can comprise a large portion of consumer diets, but can be disrupted by human modification of streams and riparian zones. Despite asymmetrical subsidy flows, we found stream and riparian consumer allochthony to be equivalent. Although both fish and stream invertebrates rely on seasonally pulsed allochthonous resources, we find allochthony varies seasonally only for fish, being nearly three times greater during the summer and fall than during the winter and spring. We also find that consumer allochthony varies with feeding traits for aquatic invertebrates, fish, and terrestrial arthropods, but not for terrestrial vertebrates. Finally, we find that allochthony varies by climate for aquatic invertebrates, being nearly twice as great in arid climates than in tropical climates, but not for fish. These findings are critical to understanding the consequences of global change, as ecosystem connections are being increasingly disrupted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Allen
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - James Larson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Christina A Murphy
- U.S. Geological Survey, Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Orono, Maine, USA
| | - Erica A Garcia
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northwest Territories, Australia
| | - Kurt E Anderson
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Michelle H Busch
- Kansas Biological Survey, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Alba Argerich
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Alice M Belskis
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kierstyn T Higgins
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Veronica Saenz
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jay Jones
- Institute of Arctic Biology and Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
| | - Matt R Whiles
- Soil, Water, and Ecosystems Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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3
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Obrist DS, Hanly PJ, Brown NEM, Ernst CM, Wickham SB, Fitzpatrick OT, Kennedy JC, Nijland W, Reshitnyk LY, Darimont CT, Starzomski BM, Reynolds JD. Biogeographic features mediate marine subsidies to island food webs. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Debora S. Obrist
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences Simon Fraser University Burnaby British Columbia Canada
- Hakai Institute Heriot Bay British Columbia Canada
| | - Patrick J. Hanly
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences Simon Fraser University Burnaby British Columbia Canada
- Hakai Institute Heriot Bay British Columbia Canada
| | - Norah E. M. Brown
- Hakai Institute Heriot Bay British Columbia Canada
- School of Environmental Studies University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Canada
| | - Christopher M. Ernst
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences Simon Fraser University Burnaby British Columbia Canada
- Hakai Institute Heriot Bay British Columbia Canada
| | - Sara B. Wickham
- Hakai Institute Heriot Bay British Columbia Canada
- School of Environmental Studies University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Canada
| | - Owen T. Fitzpatrick
- Hakai Institute Heriot Bay British Columbia Canada
- School of Environmental Studies University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Canada
| | - Jeremiah C. Kennedy
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences Simon Fraser University Burnaby British Columbia Canada
- Hakai Institute Heriot Bay British Columbia Canada
| | - Wiebe Nijland
- Hakai Institute Heriot Bay British Columbia Canada
- School of Environmental Studies University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Canada
- Department of Physical Geography Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | | | - Chris T. Darimont
- Hakai Institute Heriot Bay British Columbia Canada
- Department of Geography University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Canada
- Raincoast Conservation Foundation Sidney British Columbia Canada
| | - Brian M. Starzomski
- Hakai Institute Heriot Bay British Columbia Canada
- School of Environmental Studies University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Canada
| | - John D. Reynolds
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences Simon Fraser University Burnaby British Columbia Canada
- Hakai Institute Heriot Bay British Columbia Canada
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4
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Ellis-Soto D, Ferraro KM, Rizzuto M, Briggs E, Monk JD, Schmitz OJ. A methodological roadmap to quantify animal-vectored spatial ecosystem subsidies. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:1605-1622. [PMID: 34014558 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Energy, nutrients and organisms move over landscapes, connecting ecosystems across space and time. Meta-ecosystem theory investigates the emerging properties of local ecosystems coupled spatially by these movements of organisms and matter, by explicitly tracking exchanges of multiple substances across ecosystem borders. To date, meta-ecosystem research has focused mostly on abiotic flows-neglecting biotic nutrient flows. However, recent work has indicated animals act as spatial nutrient vectors when they transport nutrients across landscapes in the form of excreta, egesta and their own bodies. Partly due to its high level of abstraction, there are few empirical tests of meta-ecosystem theory. Furthermore, while animals may be viewed as important mediators of ecosystem functions, better integration of tools is needed to develop predictive insights of their relative roles and impacts on diverse ecosystems. We present a methodological roadmap that explains how to do such integration by discussing how to combine insights from movement, foraging and ecosystem ecology to develop a coherent understanding of animal-vectored nutrient transport on meta-ecosystems processes. We discuss how the slate of newly developed technologies and methods-tracking devices, mechanistic movement models, diet reconstruction techniques and remote sensing-that when integrated have the potential to advance the quantification of animal-vectored nutrient flows and increase the predictive power of meta-ecosystem theory. We demonstrate that by integrating novel and established tools of animal ecology, ecosystem ecology and remote sensing, we can begin to identify and quantify animal-mediated nutrient translocation by large animals. We also provide conceptual examples that show how our proposed integration of methodologies can help investigate ecosystem impacts of large animal movement. We conclude by describing practical advancements to understanding cross-ecosystem contributions of animals on the move. Understanding the mechanisms by which animals shape ecosystem dynamics is important for ongoing conservation, rewilding and restoration initiatives around the world, and for developing more accurate models of ecosystem nutrient budgets. Our roadmap will enable ecologists to better qualify and quantify animal-mediated nutrient translocation for animals on the move.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Ellis-Soto
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.,Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Matteo Rizzuto
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada
| | - Emily Briggs
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Julia D Monk
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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5
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Harvey E, Gounand I, Fronhofer EA, Altermatt F. Metaecosystem dynamics drive community composition in experimental, multi‐layered spatial networks. OIKOS 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.07037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Harvey
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Univ. of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH‐8057 Zürich Switzerland
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Inst. of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dept of Aquatic Ecology Überlandstrasse 133 CH‐8600 Dübendorf Switzerland
- Dépt de Sciences Biologiques, Univ. de Montréal Canada
| | - Isabelle Gounand
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Univ. of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH‐8057 Zürich Switzerland
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Inst. of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dept of Aquatic Ecology Überlandstrasse 133 CH‐8600 Dübendorf Switzerland
| | - Emanuel A. Fronhofer
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Univ. of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH‐8057 Zürich Switzerland
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Inst. of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dept of Aquatic Ecology Überlandstrasse 133 CH‐8600 Dübendorf Switzerland
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Univ. of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH‐8057 Zürich Switzerland
- Dépt de Sciences Biologiques, Univ. de Montréal Canada
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6
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Kopp DA, Allen DC. Stream network geometry and the spatial influence of aquatic insect subsidies across the contiguous United States. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Darin A. Kopp
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program Department of Biology University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73071 USA
| | - Daniel C. Allen
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program Department of Biology University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma 73071 USA
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