Consequences of Local Conspecific Density Effects for Plant Diversity and Community Dynamics

Title data

LaManna, Joseph A. ; Hartig, Florian ; Myers, Jonathan A. ; Freckleton, Robert P. ; Detto, Matteo ; Surendra, Akshay ; Doolittle, Cole J. ; Bachelot, Bénédicte ; Bagchi, Robert ; Comita, Liza S. ; DeFilippis, David M. ; Huanca-Nunez, Nohemi ; Hülsmann, Lisa ; Jevon, Fiona V. ; Johnson, Daniel J. ; Krishnadas, Meghna ; Magee, Lukas J. ; Mangan, Scott A. ; Milici, Valerie R. ; Murengera, Aimé Lucky Barahebuza ; Schnitzer, Stefan A. ; Smith, Daniel J. B. ; Stein, Claudia ; Sullivan, Megan K. ; Torres, Ethan ; Umaña, María Natalia ; Delavaux, Camille S.:
Consequences of Local Conspecific Density Effects for Plant Diversity and Community Dynamics.
In: Ecology Letters. Vol. 27 (2024) Issue 9 . - e14506.
ISSN 1461-0248
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.14506

Official URL:

Abstract in another language

Conspecific density dependence (CDD) in plant populations is widespread, most likely caused by local-scale biotic interactions, and has potentially important implications for biodiversity, community composition, and ecosystem processes. However, progress in this important area of ecology has been hindered by differing viewpoints on CDD across subfields in ecology, lack of synthesis across CDD-related frameworks, and misunderstandings about how empirical measurements of local CDD fit within the context of broader ecological theories on community assembly and diversity maintenance. Here, we propose a conceptual synthesis of local-scale CDD and its causes, including species-specific antagonistic and mutualistic interactions. First, we compare and clarify different uses of CDD and related concepts across subfields within ecology. We suggest the use of local stabilizing/destabilizing CDD to refer to the scenario where local conspecific density effects are more negative/positive than heterospecific effects. Second, we discuss different mechanisms for local stabilizing and destabilizing CDD, how those mechanisms are interrelated, and how they cut across several fields of study within ecology. Third, we place local stabilizing/destabilizing CDD within the context of broader ecological theories and discuss implications and challenges related to scaling up the effects of local CDD on populations, communities, and metacommunities. The ultimate goal of this synthesis is to provide a conceptual roadmap for researchers studying local CDD and its implications for population and community dynamics.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
Refereed:	Yes
Additional notes:	e14506 ELE-00379-2024.R1
Keywords:	coexistence; community ecology; diversity; feedback; Janzen–Connell; niche theory; populations; resource competition; species interactions; stabilization
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences > Junior Professor Ecosystem Analysis and Simulation Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences > Junior Professor Ecosystem Analysis and Simulation > Junior Professor Ecosystem Analysis and Simulation - Juniorprof. Dr. Lisa Hülsmann
Result of work at the UBT:	Yes
DDC Subjects:	500 Science > 550 Earth sciences, geology 500 Science > 570 Life sciences, biology 500 Science > 580 Plants (Botany)
Date Deposited:	07 Apr 2025 06:57
Last Modified:	07 Apr 2025 06:57
URI:	https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/91614