DISLOOP

The spatial patterns of disruption of plant -animal interactions within a population dynamic approach

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The decline or extinction of native species involved in biotic interactions (i.e., the disruption of interactions) can cause significant changes in ecosystem structure and/or functioning. Since the distribution, population dynamics and evolution of many species depend on species inter-relationships, changes (or loss) of such interactions can lead to disproportionately large, irreversible, and often negative alterations of ecosystem processes. Despite short-term consequences of the disruption of interactions, the current knowledge about its medium and long-term costs are limited, not only for the species regeneration but also for the functioning of the whole ecosystem. We can observe the causes and the final consequences of a disruption in a given plant-animal interaction, but the ecological and demographic processes that underlie such patterns remain unknown. This project will take a multidisciplinary approach and use recent modelling techniques (Individual based modelling and spatial-explicit population models) to study the direct and indirect consequences of a mutualism disruption within a comprehensive way including the spatial pattern generated by seed disperser to the plant spatial pattern and demographic consequences produced by such plant pattern. The methodological innovation of this project is the integration of previously collected data into two interacting Spatial-Explicit Population Models which describe an explicit plant-animal interaction. This type of simulation model allows for taking a first principle approach in which natural history and field observations are used to deduce the causal relationships among components of the natural systems and the resulting system dynamics.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Field observations and a detailed knowledge of natural history were matched with advanced computer modelling techniques to help conserve biodiversity on a group of Mediterranean islands. An EU-funded project was set up to investigate how ecosystems are degraded following the disruption of a mutually beneficial relationship between two species.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Decline or extinction of native plants and animals can upset the delicate natural balance among species and cause major changes in ecosystems. The effect can be especially serious in biodiversity hotspots such as the Balearic Islands in the western Mediterranean, which are particularly vulnerable due to their small size.

The project 'The spatial patterns of disruption of plant -animal interactions within a population dynamic approach' (Disloop) enabled scientists to gain a better understanding of what happens in an ecosystem when the relationship ceases between a plant and its only seed disperser. Researchers studied the result of interactions between the endangered shrub Dapne rodriguezzii Teixidor and the fruit-eating lizard Podarcis lilfordi Gunter. Two plant populations were assessed; in one population the reptile was present while in the other it was absent.

Researchers tested the hypothesis that the reptile's activities directly influenced shrub distribution by integrating results from field experiments into advanced computer models. They included habitat quality models for both plant populations that characterised the landscape from the perspective of the shrub and the lizard. The models identified the most important factors involved in influencing habitat structure and lizard activity, and used them to predict the presence of adult and juvenile plants.

The Disloop initiative greatly increased knowledge concerning the medium and long-term effects of disrupting species interactions. The study also provided valuable information regarding the conservation of endangered species and the protection of vulnerable ecosystems.