Biotic interactions are an unexpected yet critical control on the complexity of an abiotically driven polar ecosystem

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dc.contributor.authorLee, Charles K.en
dc.contributor.authorLaughlin, Daniel C.en
dc.contributor.authorBottos, Eric M.en
dc.contributor.authorCaruso, Tancredien
dc.contributor.authorJoy, Kurten
dc.contributor.authorBarrett, John E.en
dc.contributor.authorBrabyn, Larsen
dc.contributor.authorNielsen, Uffe N.en
dc.contributor.authorAdams, Byron J.en
dc.contributor.authorWall, Diana H.en
dc.contributor.authorHopkins, David W.en
dc.contributor.authorPointing, Stephen B.en
dc.contributor.authorMcDonald, Ian R.en
dc.contributor.authorCowan, Don A.en
dc.contributor.authorBanks, Jonathan C.en
dc.contributor.authorStichbury, Glen A.en
dc.contributor.authorJones, Irfonen
dc.contributor.authorZawar-Reza, Peymanen
dc.contributor.authorKaturji, Marwanen
dc.contributor.authorHogg, Ian D.en
dc.contributor.authorSparrow, Ashley D.en
dc.contributor.authorStorey, Bryan C.en
dc.contributor.authorGreen, T.G. Allanen
dc.contributor.authorCary, S. Craigen
dc.contributor.departmentBiological Sciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2019-03-20T12:36:48Zen
dc.date.available2019-03-20T12:36:48Zen
dc.date.issued2019-02-15en
dc.description.abstractAbiotic 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.en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-018-0274-5en
dc.identifier.eissn2399-3642en
dc.identifier.other62en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/88495en
dc.identifier.volume2en
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherSpringer Natureen
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
dc.titleBiotic interactions are an unexpected yet critical control on the complexity of an abiotically driven polar ecosystemen
dc.title.serialCommunications Biologyen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten

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