Expansion, Exploitation and Extinction: Niche Construction in Ephemeral Landscapes

Wetherington, M. T.; Keymer, J. E.

doi:10.1101/489096

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bioRxiv · 10.1101/489096

Expansion, Exploitation and Extinction: Niche Construction in Ephemeral Landscapes

Wetherington, M. T.·Keymer, J. E.

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Abstract

We developed an interacting particle system (IPS) to study the effect of niche construction on metapopulation dynamics in ephemeral landscapes. Using finite scaling theory, we find a divergence in the qualitative behavior at the extinction threshold between analytic (mean field) and numerical (IPS) results when niche construction is confined to a small area in the spatial model. While increasing the area of niche construction leads to a faster rate of range expansion, it also causes a shift from a continuous to discontinuous phase transition, thus returning to the mean field prediction. Furthermore, in the discontinuous regime of the IPS, spatial clustering prior to a critical transition disappears. This is a significant finding as spatial clustering has been considered to be an early warning signal before ecosystems reach their tipping point. In addition to maintaining stability, we find this local niche construction strategy has an advantage when in competition with an exploiter because of their ability to monopolize the constructed niche due to spatial adjacency. However, as the niche construction neighborhood expands this advantage disappears and the exploiter strategy out-competes the niche constructor. In some cases the exploiter pushes the niche constructor to extinction, thus a tragedy of the commons ensues leading to ecological suicide and a collapse of the niche.\n\nSignificance StatementMany populations do not exist passively in their environment. Niche construction theory tells us the co-regulatory feedback between a population and its localized environment can have significant impacts on the evolutionary trajectory and ecological stability of the population and broader community. However, if this feedback is not tightly coupled to the niche construction strategy it is left susceptible to exploitation. In some instances this can lead to ecological suicide, where both constructor and exploiter are driven to extinction. This study emphasizes the importance of being spatial when considering the ecological implications of niche construction. Along with adding to the development of niche construction theory, this work has implications for our understanding of critical transitions in vulnerable ecosystems.

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Wetherington, M. T., Keymer, J. E.. 2018-12-09. Expansion, Exploitation and Extinction: Niche Construction in Ephemeral Landscapes. https://doi.org/10.1101/489096

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