Resolving Ecosystem Complexity

by Oswald J. Schmitz

Overview

An ecosystem's complexity develops from the vast numbers of species interacting in ecological communities. The nature of these interactions, in turn, depends on environmental context. How do these components together influence an ecosystem's behavior as a whole? Can ecologists resolve an ecosystem's complexity in order to predict its response to disturbances? Resolving Ecosystem Complexity develops a framework for anticipating the ways environmental context determines the functioning of ecosystems.


Oswald Schmitz addresses the critical questions of contemporary ecology: How should an ecosystem be conceptualized to blend its biotic and biophysical components? How should evolutionary ecological principles be used to derive an operational understanding of complex, adaptive ecosystems? How should the relationship between the functional biotic diversity of ecosystems and their properties be understood? Schmitz begins with the universal concept that ecosystems are comprised of species that consume resources and which are then resources for other consumers. From this, he deduces a fundamental rule or evolutionary ecological mechanism for explaining context dependency: individuals within a species trade off foraging gains against the risk of being consumed by predators. Through empirical examples, Schmitz illustrates how species use evolutionary ecological strategies to negotiate a predator-eat-predator world, and he suggests that the implications of species trade-offs are critical to making ecology a predictive science.


Bridging the traditional divides between individuals, populations, and communities in ecology, Resolving Ecosystem Complexity builds a systematic foundation for thinking about natural systems.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691128498
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	07/21/2010
Series:	Monographs in Population Biology , #47
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Oswald J. Schmitz is the Oastler Professor of Population and Community Ecology in the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations ix

List of Tables xiii

Preface xv

Introduction 1

Philosophical Musings 2

Explaining Contingency: A Worldview 4

Contingency and Emergence 5

Preparing the Mind for Discovery 7

Structure of the Book 8

2 Conceptualizing Ecosystem Structure 10

Abstracting Complexity 11

Whole System vs. Building Blocks Approach 13

Defining Species Interaction Modules 15

Identifying Interaction Modules in a Grassland Ecosystem 16

Conception of Ecosystem Structure 20

3 Trophic Dynamics: Why Is the World Green? 23

Trophic Control as an Emergent Property of Resource Limitation 24

Explaining Contingency in Trophic Control of Ecosystem Function 26

The Nature of Resource Limitation and Trophic Control of Food Chains 28

The Mechanism Switching Hypothesis of Trophic Control 32

Effects of Herbivore Feeding Mode 36

Collective Effects of Herbivore Species with Different Feeding Modes 38

Plant-Antiherbivore Defense and Strength of Trophic Control 39

Herbivore Resource Selection and Ecosystem Function 41

Stoichiometry and Herbivore Resource Use 42

Resource Selection and Ecosystem Function 43

Herbivore Indirect Effects and Engineering of Green Worlds 46

Herbivore-Mediated Carnivore Indirect Effects on Ecosystems 47

Carnivore Indirect Effects on Plant Diversity 47

Carnivore Indirect Effects on Ecosystem Function 50

4 The Green World and the Brown Chain 55

Conceptualizing Functions along Detritus-Based Chains 56

Resource Limitation and Trophic Control 57

Trophic Control of Decomposition 59

Trophic Control of Mineralization 61

Mechanisms of Top-Down Control 62

Trophic Coupling between Detritus-Based and Plant-Based Chains 64

5 The Evolutionary Ecology of Trophic Control in Ecosystems 68

Carnivore Species and the Nature of Trophic Interactions in an Old-Field System 69

Carnivore Hunting Mode and the Nature of Trophic Interactions 74

The Evolutionary Ecology of Trophic Cascades 86

6 The Whole and the Parts 99

Developing Predictive Theory for Emergence 100

Contingency and Carnivore Diversity Effects on Ecosystems 101

Carnivore Diversity and Emergent Effects on Ecosystem Function 106

Shifting Down One Trophic Level: Intermediate Species Diversity and Ecosystem Function 110

Herbivore Diversity and Mediation of Top-Down Control of Ecosystem Function 112

Detritivore Diversity and Mediation of Top-Down Control of Ecosystem Function 117

The Basal Trophic Level: Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Function 118

Functional Classifications 119

Resource Identity Effects on Trophic Interactions 121

Moving Forward on Functional Diversity and Ecosystem Function 122

7 The Ecological Theater and the Evolutionary Ecological Play 125

Phenotypic Variation and State-Dependent Trade-Offs 127

Attacked Plants Attract Predators 129

Predators That Avoid Predation 130

The Nonconsumptive Basis of Trophic Transfer Efficiencies 132

Trophic Interactions in a Changing Theater 133

Rapid Change in Hunting Strategy 135

Landscapes of Fear and Ecosystem Management 135

Closing Remarks 139

References 143

Index 167

What People are Saying About This

Adler

This book focuses on the importance of multitrophic interactions in ecology. It illuminates significant points and helped me to think about complex ecosystems more clearly.
— Frederick R. Adler, University of Utah

Adrien Finzi

Resolving Ecosystem Complexity presents a modern synthesis of trophic structure and function that addresses some of the most fundamental questions raised by Darwin, Tansley, and Hutchinson. Through rigorous analysis of case studies and data, Schmitz brings to life the importance of direct and indirect interactions on the functioning of ecosystems. This clear and compelling book is a must-read for scientists and educators interested in integrative ecosystem analysis.
— Adrien Finzi, Boston University

From the Publisher

"Resolving Ecosystem Complexity presents a modern synthesis of trophic structure and function that addresses some of the most fundamental questions raised by Darwin, Tansley, and Hutchinson. Through rigorous analysis of case studies and data, Schmitz brings to life the importance of direct and indirect interactions on the functioning of ecosystems. This clear and compelling book is a must-read for scientists and educators interested in integrative ecosystem analysis."—Adrien Finzi, Boston University

"This ambitious and inspiring book is a valuable contribution to ecology. Highly synthetic, it melds an overall approach to science with summaries of detailed empirical and theoretical work. Resolving Ecosystem Complexity is remarkably well done and I learned a great deal from reading this important book."—Anurag Agrawal, Cornell University

"This book focuses on the importance of multitrophic interactions in ecology. It illuminates significant points and helped me to think about complex ecosystems more clearly."—Frederick R. Adler, University of Utah

Anurag Agrawal

This ambitious and inspiring book is a valuable contribution to ecology. Highly synthetic, it melds an overall approach to science with summaries of detailed empirical and theoretical work. Resolving Ecosystem Complexity is remarkably well done and I learned a great deal from reading this important book.
— Anurag Agrawal, Cornell University

Editorial Reviews

"Within the fast-growing landscape of ecological literature, this book emerges as a rare yet inspiring attempt to explain ecosystem complexity. Schmitz does this by introducing contingencies in nature and synthesizing up-to-date knowledge on species interactions, trophic structure, and ecosystem function and dynamics through stimulating questions, theoretical thinking, and empirical evidence. . . . This is a model book in ecology, and should be used as a critical reference source for academics interested in ecological theory and recent developments in the field."

Choice

Although they are strongly focused on the experimental side of ecology the range of topics covered in this book is large and coupled with at least initial experimental evidence, sometimes with fascinating hypothesis-generating extrapolations.

BioScience - John H. Vandermeer

This book would be a great starting point for undergraduates considering careers in ecology and is a goldmine for graduate students looking for dissertation topics. But most importantly, this book reminds all of us that we can indeed understand the complexity of ecological systems.

Ecology - Aaron M. Ellison

Although they are strongly focused on the experimental side of ecology the range of topics covered in this book is large and coupled with at least initial experimental evidence, sometimes with fascinating hypothesis-generating extrapolations.
— John H. Vandermeer

BioScience

This book would be a great starting point for undergraduates considering careers in ecology and is a goldmine for graduate students looking for dissertation topics. But most importantly, this book reminds all of us that we can indeed understand the complexity of ecological systems.
— Aaron M. Ellison

Ecology

One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2011

From the Publisher