Publication Date:
2022-10-20
Description:
© The Author(s), 2022. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Walter, J. A., Castorani, M. C. N., Bell, T. W., Sheppard, L. W., Cavanaugh, K. C., & Reuman, D. C. Tail-dependent spatial synchrony arises from nonlinear driver-response relationships. Ecology Letters, 25, (2022): 1189– 1201, https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13991.
Description:
Spatial synchrony may be tail-dependent, that is, stronger when populations are abundant than scarce, or vice-versa. Here, ‘tail-dependent’ follows from distributions having a lower tail consisting of relatively low values and an upper tail of relatively high values. We present a general theory of how the distribution and correlation structure of an environmental driver translates into tail-dependent spatial synchrony through a non-linear response, and examine empirical evidence for theoretical predictions in giant kelp along the California coastline. In sheltered areas, kelp declines synchronously (lower-tail dependence) when waves are relatively intense, because waves below a certain height do little damage to kelp. Conversely, in exposed areas, kelp is synchronised primarily by periods of calmness that cause shared recovery (upper-tail dependence). We find evidence for geographies of tail dependence in synchrony, which helps structure regional population resilience: areas where population declines are asynchronous may be more resilient to disturbance because remnant populations facilitate reestablishment.
Description:
This research was supported by NSF-OCE awards 2023555, 2023523, 2140335, 2023474, and the James S McDonnell Foundation. This project used data developed through the Santa Barbara Coastal Long Term Ecological Research project, funded through NSF-OCE 1831937.
Keywords:
Copula
;
Disturbance
;
Giant kelp
;
Macrocystis pyrifera
;
Nutrients
;
Stability
;
Synchrony
;
Waves
Repository Name:
Woods Hole Open Access Server
Type:
Article
