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Contrasting effects of dispersal network heterogeneity on ecosystem stability in rock-paper-scissors games

Guo, Guanming, Zhang, Zeyu, Zhang, Helin, Bearup, Daniel, Liao, Jinbao (2022) Contrasting effects of dispersal network heterogeneity on ecosystem stability in rock-paper-scissors games. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 10 . Article Number 1068830. ISSN 2296-701X. (doi:10.3389/fevo.2022.1068830) (KAR id:97873)

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Abstract

Intransitive competition, typically represented by the classic rock-paper-scissors game, provides an endogenous mechanism promoting species coexistence. As well known, species dispersal and interaction in nature might occur on complex patch networks, with species interacting in diverse ways. However, the effects of different interaction modes, combined with spatial heterogeneity in patch connectivities, have not been well integrated into our general understanding of how stable coexistence emerges in cyclic competition. We thus incorporate network heterogeneity into the classic rock-paper-scissors game, in order to compare ecosystem stability under two typical modes of interaction: species compete to fill empty sites, and species seize each other’s colony sites. On lattice-structured regular networks, the two interaction modes produce similar stability patterns through forming conspecific clusters to reduce interspecific competition. However, for heterogeneous networks, the interaction modes have contrasting effects on ecosystem stability. Specifically, if species compete for colony sites, increasing network heterogeneity stabilizes competitive dynamics. When species compete to fill empty sites, an increase in network heterogeneity leads to larger population fluctuations and therefore a higher risk of stochastic extinctions, in stark contrast to current knowledge. Our findings strongly suggest that particular attention should be devoted to testing which mode of interaction is more appropriate for modelling a given system.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1068830
Uncontrolled keywords: Competitive intransitivity, cyclically competing ecosystems, dispersal network heterogeneity, ecosystem stability, rock-paper-scissors games
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science
Funders: University of Kent (https://ror.org/00xkeyj56)
Depositing User: Daniel Bearup
Date Deposited: 08 Nov 2022 17:51 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Jan 2024 22:22 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/97873 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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