Aridity weakens population-level effects of multiple species interactions on Hibiscus meyeri
Abstract
Predicting the impacts of global change on biodiversity requires understanding the factors that regulate population growth and set species’ range boundaries. Darwin proposed that abiotic factors limit population growth in stressful areas, whereas species interactions dominate in less stressful environments because of an increased density and diversity of enemies (consumers, parasites, pathogens). We present experimental support for this hypothesized shift in the strength of species interactions with climate, but we also show that this pattern does not arise from Darwin’s proposed mechanism. Our work implies that effects of species interactions on population growth rate decrease with stress, with implications for how different range boundaries are likely to respond to climatic change.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Dec 28, 2017
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1708436115
Entities
People
- Allison M. Louthan
- Daniel F. Doak
- Jacob R. Goheen
- Robert M. Pringle
- Todd M. Palmer
- William F. Morris
Organizations
- Duke University
- National Science Foundation
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
- P.E.O. Sisterhood
- Princeton University
- Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program
- University of Colorado
- University of Colorado Boulder
- University of Florida
- University of Wyoming