Mesoscale network properties in ecological system models

Jordán, Ferenc and Pereira,, Juliana and Marco, Ortiz (2019) Mesoscale network properties in ecological system models. Current Opinion in Systems Biology, 13. pp. 122-128. ISSN 2452-3100

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Abstract

Network models are among the most powerful tools in systems ecology. Since trophic relationships (i.e. who eats whom) are among the most frequent interspecific interactions, food webs serve well as system models. In order to better understand ecosystem dynamics, neither strictly local (focusing on individual species) nor strictly global (focusing on the whole ecosystem) approaches are adequate. This mesoscale view on network links suggests to quantify indirect interactions up to some reasonable range and a mesoscale view on network nodes suggests to identify a small set of nodes that are in the most important network positions. We present some examples taking this mesoscale view in ecosystem modelling and use these to discuss the mesoscale perspective. For systems-based conservation management, we suggest to focus on keystone species complexes that are determined considering their indirect interaction neighbourhood. This approach provides a systems-based alternative that hopefully increases to efficiency of future conservation efforts: a small set of system components are targeted in such a way that a large set of the remaining elements are benefited.

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