The Interplay Between Landscape Structure and Biotic Interactions

Abstract

Landscape structure and biotic interactions are closely linked.We identify five aspects of landscape structure that con- tribute to the co-occurrence of species and restrict or enable dif- ferent types of biotic interactions: patch size and habitat amount, isolation of patches, barriers to dispersal and movement, persis- tence of landscape structure, and landscape complexity. In addi- tion, these aspects of landscape structure influence the strength and outcome of biotic interactions. Whereas most research fo- cuses on the effects of the abiotic environment on species and their biotic interactions, research on foundation species and eco- system engineers demonstrates the important influence of biotic interactions on landscape structure itself, including effects on landscape complexity, extent of habitat, and the structure of land- scape features. In this review,wedescribe ecological theories that lay the foundation for interplay between landscape structure and biotic interactions, and summarize these connections across an array of interacting species in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial systems. We end with suggestions for integrating the fields of landscape ecology and community ecology to better understand the connections between landscape structure and biotic interac- tions and better predict their dynamics in light of global change.