02353nas a2200397 4500008004100000245012200041210006900163260001200232490000600244520115100250100002101401700002501422700002101447700002101468700001401489700002201503700001701525700002201542700001701564700002001581700002001601700002401621700002201645700001901667700002401686700002401710700001701734700002301751700002001774700001801794700002401812700002201836700002401858700001901882856005401901 2019 eng d00aBiotic interactions are an unexpected yet critical control on the complexity of an abiotically driven polar ecosystem0 aBiotic interactions are an unexpected yet critical control on th c02/20190 v23 a
Abiotic and biotic factors control ecosystem biodiversity, but their relative contributions remain unclear. The ultraoligotrophic ecosystem of the Antarctic Dry Valleys, a simple yet highly heterogeneous ecosystem, is a natural laboratory well-suited for resolving the abiotic and biotic controls of community structure. We undertook a multidisciplinary investigation to capture ecologically relevant biotic and abiotic attributes of more than 500 sites in the Dry Valleys, encompassing observed landscape heterogeneities across more than 200 km2. Using richness of autotrophic and heterotrophic taxa as a proxy for functional complexity, we linked measured variables in a parsimonious yet comprehensive structural equation model that explained significant variations in biological complexity and identified landscape-scale and fine-scale abiotic factors as the primary drivers of diversity. However, the inclusion of linkages among functional groups was essential for constructing the best-fitting model. Our findings support the notion that biotic interactions make crucial contributions even in an extremely simple ecosystem.
1 aLee, Charles, K.1 aLaughlin, Daniel, C.1 aBottos, Eric, M.1 aCaruso, Tancredi1 aJoy, Kurt1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aBrabyn, Lars1 aNielsen, Uffe, N.1 aAdams, Byron1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aHopkins, D., W.1 aPointing, Steve, B.1 aMcDonald, Ian, R.1 aCowan, Don, A.1 aBanks, Jonathan, C.1 aStichbury, Glen, A.1 aJones, Irfon1 aZawar-Reza, Peyman1 aKaturji, Marwan1 aHogg, Ian, D.1 aSparrow, Ashley, D.1 aStorey, Bryan, C.1 aGreen, T., G. Allan1 aCary, Craig, S uhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-018-0274-5