TY - JOUR A1 - Kissling, W. D. A1 - Dormann, Carsten F. A1 - Groeneveld, Juergen A1 - Hickler, Thomas A1 - Kühn, Ingolf A1 - McInerny, Greg J. A1 - Montoya, Jose M. A1 - Römermann, Christine A1 - Schiffers, Katja A1 - Schurr, Frank Martin A1 - Singer, Alexander A1 - Svenning, Jens-Christian A1 - Zimmermann, Niklaus E. A1 - O'Hara, Robert B. T1 - Towards novel approaches to modelling biotic interactions in multispecies assemblages at large spatial extents JF - Journal of biogeography N2 - Aim Biotic interactions within guilds or across trophic levels have widely been ignored in species distribution models (SDMs). This synthesis outlines the development of species interaction distribution models (SIDMs), which aim to incorporate multispecies interactions at large spatial extents using interaction matrices. Location Local to global. Methods We review recent approaches for extending classical SDMs to incorporate biotic interactions, and identify some methodological and conceptual limitations. To illustrate possible directions for conceptual advancement we explore three principal ways of modelling multispecies interactions using interaction matrices: simple qualitative linkages between species, quantitative interaction coefficients reflecting interaction strengths, and interactions mediated by interaction currencies. We explain methodological advancements for static interaction data and multispecies time series, and outline methods to reduce complexity when modelling multispecies interactions. Results Classical SDMs ignore biotic interactions and recent SDM extensions only include the unidirectional influence of one or a few species. However, novel methods using error matrices in multivariate regression models allow interactions between multiple species to be modelled explicitly with spatial co-occurrence data. If time series are available, multivariate versions of population dynamic models can be applied that account for the effects and relative importance of species interactions and environmental drivers. These methods need to be extended by incorporating the non-stationarity in interaction coefficients across space and time, and are challenged by the limited empirical knowledge on spatio-temporal variation in the existence and strength of species interactions. Model complexity may be reduced by: (1) using prior ecological knowledge to set a subset of interaction coefficients to zero, (2) modelling guilds and functional groups rather than individual species, and (3) modelling interaction currencies and species effect and response traits. Main conclusions There is great potential for developing novel approaches that incorporate multispecies interactions into the projection of species distributions and community structure at large spatial extents. Progress can be made by: (1) developing statistical models with interaction matrices for multispecies co-occurrence datasets across large-scale environmental gradients, (2) testing the potential and limitations of methods for complexity reduction, and (3) sampling and monitoring comprehensive spatio-temporal data on biotic interactions in multispecies communities. KW - Community ecology KW - ecological networks KW - global change KW - guild assembly KW - multidimensional complexity KW - niche theory KW - prediction KW - species distribution model KW - species interactions KW - trait-based community modules Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2011.02663.x SN - 0305-0270 VL - 39 IS - 12 SP - 2163 EP - 2178 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Grimm-Seyfarth, Annegret A1 - Mihoub, Jean-Baptiste A1 - Henle, Klaus T1 - Functional traits determine the different effects of prey, predators, and climatic extremes on desert reptiles JF - Ecosphere : the magazine of the International Ecology University N2 - Terrestrial reptiles are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Their highest density and diversity can be found in hot drylands, ecosystems which demonstrate extreme climatic conditions. However, reptiles are not isolated systems but part of a large species assemblage with many trophic dependencies. While direct relations among climatic conditions, invertebrates, vegetation, or reptiles have already been explored, to our knowledge, species’ responses to direct and indirect pathways of multiple climatic and biotic factors and their interactions have rarely been examined comprehensively. We investigated direct and indirect effects of climatic and biotic parameters on the individual (body condition) and population level (occupancy) of eight abundant lizard species with different functional traits in an arid Australian lizard community using a 30‐yr multi‐trophic monitoring study. We used structural equation modeling to disentangle single and interactive effects. We then assessed whether species could be grouped into functional groups according to their functional traits and their responses to different parameters. We found that lizard species differed strongly in how they responded to climatic and biotic factors. However, the factors to which they responded seemed to be determined by their functional traits. While responses on body condition were determined by habitat, activity time, and prey, responses on occupancy were determined by habitat specialization, body size, and longevity. Our findings highlight the importance of indirect pathways through climatic and biotic interactions, which should be included into predictive models to increase accuracy when predicting species’ responses to climate change. Since one might never obtain all mechanistic pathways at the species level, we propose an approach of identifying relevant species traits that help grouping species into functional groups at different ecological levels, which could then be used for predictive modeling. KW - Australia KW - climate change KW - Gekkonidae KW - periodic flooding KW - Scincidae KW - species functional traits KW - species interactions KW - structural equation modeling Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2865 SN - 2150-8925 VL - 10 IS - 9 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER -