Unravelling stability-complexity relationships

Abstract

Defining the characteristics of persistent species assemblages is a major focus in ecology. A key set of questions is: how to scale up from interactions between two species to multiple species, what is the role of species characteristics in coexistence and what are the ecosystem level consequences of the characteristics of coexistence. Narwani & Mazumder use meticulous experimental work to look at these three questions simultaneously using carefully controlled microcosms. A key finding is that the relationships between stability and diversity as measured by effects on different trophic levels and different aspects of ecosystem function depend critically on the community composition. The particular species involved are more important than the overall diversity. © 2012 The Author. Journal of Animal Ecology © 2012 British Ecological Society.