Habitat and species richness in drylands are affected by the dynamics of a few key species, termed ``ecosystem engineers.{''} These species modulate the landscape and redistribute the water resources so as to allow the introduction of other species. A mathematical model is developed for a pair of ecosystem engineers commonly found in drylands: plants forming vegetation patterns and cyanobacteria forming soil crusts. The model highlights conditions for habitat creation and for high habitat richness, and suggests a novel mechanism for species loss events as a result of environmental changes.
Ecosystem engineers: From pattern formation to habitat creation / Gilad, E; von Hardenberg, J; Provenzale, A; Shachak, M; Meron, E. - In: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS. - ISSN 0031-9007. - 93:9(2004). [10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.098105]
Titolo: | Ecosystem engineers: From pattern formation to habitat creation | |
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Data di pubblicazione: | 2004 | |
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Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.098105 | |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.1 Articolo in rivista |
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http://hdl.handle.net/11583/2814874