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Loss of foundation species: consequences for the structure and dynamics of forested ecosystems
Author(s) -
Ellison Aaron M.,
Bank Michael S.,
Clinton Barton D.,
Colburn Elizabeth A.,
Elliott Katherine,
Ford Chelcy R.,
Foster David R.,
Kloeppel Brian D.,
Knoepp Jennifer D.,
Lovett Gary M.,
Mohan Jacqueline,
Orwig David A.,
Rodenhouse Nicholas L.,
Sobczak William V.,
Stinson Kristina A.,
Stone Jeffrey K.,
Swan Christopher M.,
Thompson Jill,
Von Holle Betsy,
Webster Jackson R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
frontiers in ecology and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.918
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1540-9309
pISSN - 1540-9295
DOI - 10.1890/1540-9295(2005)003[0479:lofscf]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - foundation species , ecosystem , ecology , disturbance (geology) , forest ecology , foundation (evidence) , ecosystem services , biology , environmental science , geography , archaeology , paleontology
In many forested ecosystems, the architecture and functional ecology of certain tree species define forest structure and their species‐specific traits control ecosystem dynamics. Such foundation tree species are declining throughout the world due to introductions and outbreaks of pests and pathogens, selective removal of individual taxa, and over‐harvesting. Through a series of case studies, we show that the loss of foundation tree species changes the local environment on which a variety of other species depend; how this disrupts fundamental ecosystem processes, including rates of decomposition, nutrient fluxes, carbon sequestration, and energy flow; and dramatically alters the dynamics of associated aquatic ecosystems. Forests in which dynamics are controlled by one or a few foundation species appear to be dominated by a small number of strong interactions and may be highly susceptible to alternating between stable states following even small perturbations. The ongoing decline of many foundation species provides a set of important, albeit unfortunate, opportunities to develop the research tools, models, and metrics needed to identify foundation species, anticipate the cascade of immediate, short‐ and long‐term changes in ecosystem structure and function that will follow from their loss, and provide options for remedial conservation and management.