Spatial organization of multiple plant species that appears as a non-random distribution of vegetative patches is one of the mostly observed spatial patterns in arid ecosystems. Yet understanding of ecological process...Spatial organization of multiple plant species that appears as a non-random distribution of vegetative patches is one of the mostly observed spatial patterns in arid ecosystems. Yet understanding of ecological processes allowing this spatial pattern to emerge through interspecific interactions is still lacking. With a proposed conceptual model involving interspecific trade-offs between species competitive ability and colonization ability, we have argued that within patch abundance dynamics regulated by the mechanisms of competition are strongly influenced by the between patches colonization dynamics that are maintained via this trade-offs and it holds a positive, intraspecific occupancy-abundance relationship, in which increased patch occupancy increases species density within inhabiting patches. In a constant environment, while local abundance dynamics approach toward a stable equilibrium point, a fixed spatial arrangement of species can be retained through this coupled dynamics. However, in fluctuating environments where existence of such stable equilibriums is highly uncertain, it may involve continuous transitions from one community state to another as species re-organized themselves over space through the rapid changes in local species abundances. While some of the inhabiting patches are destroyed exogenously or endogenously, or species responses to increasing environmental fluctuations vary increasingly with time, discontinuous transitions into an abrupt, irreversible state of the community dynamics may occur, as with this effect the inherent positive relationship between occupancy and abundance of species is no longer maintained.展开更多
The complexity of economic development and humanitarian crisesmeans that energy science and technology should be involved in actions that address almost everymajor challenges of ecosystem health and sustainability.Ene...The complexity of economic development and humanitarian crisesmeans that energy science and technology should be involved in actions that address almost everymajor challenges of ecosystem health and sustainability.Energy is the engine of the world economy and the key to ecosystems’functioning,which also has a great impact on global warming.The energy crisis,environmental pollution,overuse of natural resources,water supply shortages,global climate disruption,and deteriorating ecosystems are major challenges to address in order to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).In light of the frontiers in energy sciences and disruptive innovation in eco-tech,we recognize the need to review and establish working mechanisms that identify and examine issues that are critical to future sustainable development,to offer advice to decision-makers in different social sectors(public and private),to secure a shared future for mankind,and to achieve shared prosperity and common interests through international communications and collaborations.展开更多
基金supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Biocom-plexity Program (DEB-0421530)Long-Term Ecological Research Program (Sevilleta LTER, DEB-0217774 and 0620482)University of California Agricultural Experiment Station
文摘Spatial organization of multiple plant species that appears as a non-random distribution of vegetative patches is one of the mostly observed spatial patterns in arid ecosystems. Yet understanding of ecological processes allowing this spatial pattern to emerge through interspecific interactions is still lacking. With a proposed conceptual model involving interspecific trade-offs between species competitive ability and colonization ability, we have argued that within patch abundance dynamics regulated by the mechanisms of competition are strongly influenced by the between patches colonization dynamics that are maintained via this trade-offs and it holds a positive, intraspecific occupancy-abundance relationship, in which increased patch occupancy increases species density within inhabiting patches. In a constant environment, while local abundance dynamics approach toward a stable equilibrium point, a fixed spatial arrangement of species can be retained through this coupled dynamics. However, in fluctuating environments where existence of such stable equilibriums is highly uncertain, it may involve continuous transitions from one community state to another as species re-organized themselves over space through the rapid changes in local species abundances. While some of the inhabiting patches are destroyed exogenously or endogenously, or species responses to increasing environmental fluctuations vary increasingly with time, discontinuous transitions into an abrupt, irreversible state of the community dynamics may occur, as with this effect the inherent positive relationship between occupancy and abundance of species is no longer maintained.
文摘The complexity of economic development and humanitarian crisesmeans that energy science and technology should be involved in actions that address almost everymajor challenges of ecosystem health and sustainability.Energy is the engine of the world economy and the key to ecosystems’functioning,which also has a great impact on global warming.The energy crisis,environmental pollution,overuse of natural resources,water supply shortages,global climate disruption,and deteriorating ecosystems are major challenges to address in order to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).In light of the frontiers in energy sciences and disruptive innovation in eco-tech,we recognize the need to review and establish working mechanisms that identify and examine issues that are critical to future sustainable development,to offer advice to decision-makers in different social sectors(public and private),to secure a shared future for mankind,and to achieve shared prosperity and common interests through international communications and collaborations.
