How network temporal dynamics shape a mutualistic system with invasive species?

TL;DR

This paper explores how the timing and dynamics of ecological networks influence the impact of invasive species, emphasizing the importance of temporal factors in understanding ecosystem resilience and species interactions.

Contribution

It introduces a simulation platform based on seasonal data to demonstrate the role of network temporality in ecological invasions and encourages further research in temporal ecological networks.

Findings

Temporal dynamics affect species extinction patterns

Seasonality influences invasion success

Temporal networks are crucial for ecosystem stability

Abstract

Ecological networks allow us to study the structure and function of ecosystems and gain insights on species resilience/stability. The study of this ecological networks is usually a snapshop focused in a limited specific range of space and time, prevent us to perceive the real dynamics of ecological processes. By definition, an alien species has some ecological strategies and traits that permit it to compete better than the native species (e.g. absence of predators, different bloom period, high grow rate, etc.). Plant-pollinator networks provide valuable services to whole ecosystems and the introduction of an alien species may have different effects on the native network (competitive facilitation, native species extinction, etc.). While scientists acknowledge the significance of network connectivity in driving ecosystem services, the inclusion of temporary networks in ecological models is still in its infancy. We propose to use existing data on seasonality to develop a simulation platform that show inference between temporality of networks and invasions traits. Our focus is only to pick up some simple model to show, that theoretically temporal aspect play a role (different extinction patterns) to encourage ecologist to get involved in temporal networks. Moreover, the derived simulations could be further extended and adjust to other ecological questions.