Topological Key Players In Communities:
The Network Perspective
Author(s)
F. Jordán
Abstract
For both a general understanding of ecosystem functioning and the setting of
conservation priorities is very important to have quantitative methods for
quantifying the relative importance of species. We present an approach from the
network perspective on ecology. Topological keystone species are those in
critically important positions within the interaction network of an ecological
community. Graph theory makes the quantification of the positional importance
of nodes within networks possible. There are many ways to measure this and, in
particular, we use some network indices recently introduced in social network
analysis. These are suitable for the characterisation of both direct and indirect
interactions. The key players of a hypothetical ecological community will be
identified and the results of different methods will be compared. We emphasise
that the need to find a quantitative, comparative approach to species importance
is urgent and very important when outlining effective conservation efforts.
Keywords: keystone species, network perspective, graph theory, trophic field,
indirect effects.
1 Introduction
The two main traditional strategies of conservation practice are to protect
habitats and to save endangered species. Both have theoretical and practical
difficulties and a possible third way could be to protect ecosystem functioning.
This is easy to say but more abstract to imagine in everyday practice, or harder
even to define. The recent claim for more objective and more quantitative studies
in identifying keystone species [1] is a perspective offering a more functional
approach to conservation biology. The characterisation and understanding of
Keywords
keystone species, network perspective, graph theory, trophic field,
indirect effects.
Related Book
Other papers in this volume
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