Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.tpb.2017.04.004
Title (Primary) Transience after disturbance: Obligate species recovery dynamics depend on disturbance duration
Author Singer, A.; Johst, K.
Source Titel Theoretical Population Biology
Year 2017
Department OESA; iDiv
Volume 115
Page From 81
Page To 88
Language englisch
Keywords Food web; Time-delay; Transient dynamics; Recovery; Disturbance; Obligate
UFZ wide themes RU5;
Abstract After a disturbance event, population recovery becomes an important species response that drives ecosystem dynamics. Yet, it is unclear how interspecific interactions impact species recovery from a disturbance and which role the disturbance duration (pulse or press) plays. Here, we analytically derive conditions that govern the transient recovery dynamics from disturbance of a host and its obligately dependent partner in a two-species metapopulation model. We find that, after disturbance, species recovery dynamics depend on the species’ role (i.e. host or obligately dependent species) as well as the duration of disturbance. Host recovery starts immediately after the disturbance. In contrast, for obligate species, recovery depends on disturbance duration. After press disturbance, which allows dynamics to equilibrate during disturbance, obligate species immediately start to recover. Yet, after pulse disturbance, obligate species continue declining although their hosts have already begun to increase. Effectively, obligate species recovery is delayed until a necessary host threshold occupancy is reached. Obligates’ delayed recovery arises solely from interspecific interactions independent of dispersal limitations, which contests previous explanations. Delayed recovery exerts a two-fold negative effect, because populations continue declining to even smaller population sizes and the phase of increased risk from demographic stochastic extinction in small populations is prolonged. We argue that delayed recovery and its determinants –species interactions and disturbance duration – have to be considered in biodiversity management.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=18800
Singer, A., Johst, K. (2017):
Transience after disturbance: Obligate species recovery dynamics depend on disturbance duration
Theor. Popul. Biol. 115 , 81 - 88 10.1016/j.tpb.2017.04.004