comprehensive framework for the evaluation of metacommunity structure

The metacommunity framework is a powerful platform for evaluating patterns of species distribution in geographic or environmental space. Idealized patterns (checkerboard, Clementsian, evenly spaced, Gleasonian and nested distributions) give the framework shape. Each pattern represents an area in a m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oikos 2010-06, Vol.119 (6), p.908-917
Main Authors: Presley, Steven J., Higgins, Christopher L., Willig, Michael R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Bats
Biogeography
Biological and medical sciences
Community structure
Criteria
Data analysis
Ecological genetics
Ecological modeling
Ecology
Forum
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Habitats
Mechanics
Modeling
Population ecology
Research methodology
Species
Synecology
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Summary:The metacommunity framework is a powerful platform for evaluating patterns of species distribution in geographic or environmental space. Idealized patterns (checkerboard, Clementsian, evenly spaced, Gleasonian and nested distributions) give the framework shape. Each pattern represents an area in a multidimensional continuum of metacommunity structures; however, the current approach to analysis of spatial structure of metacommunities is incomplete. To address this, we describe additional non-random structures and illustrate how they may be discerned via objective criteria. First, we distinguish three distinct forms of species loss in nested structures, which should improve identification of structuring mechanisms for nested patterns. Second, we define six quasi-structures that are consistent with the conceptual underpinnings of Clementsian, Gleasonian, evenly spaced and nested distributions. Finally, we demonstrate how combinations of structures at smaller spatial extents may aggregate to form Clementsian structure at larger extents. These refinements should facilitate the identification of best-fit patterns, associated structuring mechanisms, and informative scales of analysis and interpretation. This conceptual and analytical framework may be applied to network properties within communities (i.e. structure of interspecific interactions) and has broad application in ecology and biogeography.
ISSN:0030-1299
1600-0706
DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0706.2010.18544.x