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The hidden complexity of multi‐species interactions
Author(s) -
Roxburgh Stephen H.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of vegetation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1654-1103
pISSN - 1100-9233
DOI - 10.1111/jvs.12267
Subject(s) - ecology , facilitation , structuring , vegetation (pathology) , range (aeronautics) , competition (biology) , biodiversity , community , biology , geography , ecosystem , medicine , materials science , finance , pathology , neuroscience , economics , composite material
In this issue of the Journal of Vegetation Science , Michalet et al. used species removal experiments to detect direct and indirect species interactions in a sub‐alpine grassland. They found evidence for competition, facilitation and a range of indirect interactions at the species level, but no measurable effects when aggregated at the community level. Their results raise fundamental questions regarding the role and importance of indirect interactions in structuring ecological communities.