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The spatial scaling of species interaction networks

Abstract

Species–area relationships (SARs) are pivotal to understand the distribution of biodiversity across spatial scales. We know little, however, about how the network of biotic interactions in which biodiversity is embedded changes with spatial extent. Here we develop a new theoretical framework that enables us to explore how different assembly mechanisms and theoretical models affect multiple properties of ecological networks across space. We present a number of testable predictions on network–area relationships (NARs) for multi-trophic communities. Network structure changes as area increases because of the existence of different SARs across trophic levels, the preferential selection of generalist species at small spatial extents and the effect of dispersal limitation promoting beta-diversity. Developing an understanding of NARs will complement the growing body of knowledge on SARs with potential applications in conservation ecology. Specifically, combined with further empirical evidence, NARs can generate predictions of potential effects on ecological communities of habitat loss and fragmentation in a changing world.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2: Mechanisms underlying NARs.
Fig. 3: NARs for the trophic sampling model.
Fig. 4: Specialism across spatial scales.
Fig. 5: Comparison between models.

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Acknowledgements

We warmly thank J.-F. Arnoldi, M. Barbier and B. Haegeman for numerous discussions and critical reading of preliminary drafts, which improved the quality of this paper. This work was funded in part through the French Laboratory of Excellence Project ‘TULIP’ (ANR-10-LABX-41; ANR-11-IDEX-002-02), by a Region Midi-Pyrénées Project (CNRS 121090), by a grant from the Canadian Institute of Ecology and Evolution, and by the NEWFORESTS project.

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N.G., D.G., B.C. and J.M.M. designed research. N.G., M.L., D.G. and J.M.M. conducted research and contributed to the models. N.G., D.G. and J.M.M. wrote the paper, and all authors contributed to editing and discussion.

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Correspondence to José M. Montoya.

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Supplementary Methods, Supplementary Tables 1–3, Supplementary Figures 1–8

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Galiana, N., Lurgi, M., Claramunt-López, B. et al. The spatial scaling of species interaction networks. Nat Ecol Evol 2, 782–790 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-018-0517-3

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