Organized Oral Session
Chhaya Werner
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY, United States
Melissa DeSiervo
Postdoc
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming, United States
Melissa DeSiervo
Postdoc
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming, United States
Species interactions drive patterns of coexistence in communities, but are also environmentally dependent, making measuring and predicting the strengths and effects of these interspecific inter- actions challenging. A variety of approaches such as food web theory, modern coexistence theory, and structural theory are used to tackle these ideas across different systems, but there can be chal- lenges connecting theory with empirical work. Recent advances in community ecology are working to bridge this gap, making steps to increase our mechanistic understanding and predictive power of where and how species coexist. These studies highlight the importance of species interactions in understanding community diversity, species responses to disturbance, and the success or failure of conservation efforts. We propose a session bringing together researchers who are connecting different theories of coexistence or species interactions to empirical patterns, including some researchers who use empirical data to test and extend theory, and other who apply theory to better understand real-world processes.
In a changing climate, species interactions are key drivers of population shifts, community dynam- ics, and ecosystem function. Additional interactions with introduced or range-expanding species can further impact communities, with the ability of native species to coexist with the new arrivals a main question of research and management concern. Fitting with the meeting theme, ”A Change is Gonna Come”, multiple participants in our proposed session will address species interactions and coexistence in the context of global change, including warming temperatures and drought events. Additional talks will incorporate non-equilibrium and transient dynamics into previously equilibrium-focused theory, an important step for thinking about ongoing ecological change.
Presenting Author: Chhaya M. Werner – University of Wyoming
Co-author: Chhaya M. Werner – University of Wyoming
Co-author: Lauren Hallett – Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Co-author: Lauren G. Shoemaker – University of Wyoming
Presenting Author: Ashwini Ramesh – University of Indiana
Presenting Author: Chuliang Song – McGill University
Co-author: Benno I. Simmons – University of Exeter
Co-author: Marie-Josée Fortin – University of Toronto
Co-author: Andrew Gonzalez – McGill University
Co-author: Christopher N. Kaiser-Bunbury – University of Exeter
Co-author: Serguei Saavedra – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Presenting Author: Adam Siepielski – Department of Biological Sciences. University of Arkansas
Co-author: Miguel A. Gomez Llano – University of Arkansas
Presenting Author: Oscar Godoy – UCA
Co-author: Pablo Almaraz – ICMAN-CSIC
Co-author: Fernando Soler – University of Sevilla
Co-author: Jose Antonio Langa – University of Sevilla
Presenting Author: Hidetoshi Inamine – Pennsylvania State University
Co-author: Hidetoshi Inamine – Pennsylvania State University
Co-author: Adam Miller – Pennsylvania State University
Co-author: Stephen Roxburgh – CSIRO Land and Water
Co-author: Angus Buckling – University of Exeter, Penryn Campus
Co-author: Katriona Shea – The Pennsylvania State University