Networks on Networks: Self-organized patterns in meta food webs
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Engineering Mathematics and Technology
Abstract
A current hot topic of research in network science are multi-layer networks. However, research on these systems, which can be thought of as networks of networks, is still held back by the need for data on concrete applications. An interesting example of networks on networks is provided by ecological meta-foodwebs. Ecological foodwebs, the networks of who eats who in ecology, have been studied for a long time. But, classical food web models do not consider the spatial distribution of species. Most natural environments are far from homogeneous but form distinct patches (e.g. systems of islands, lakes, parks in a city, or patches of forest in an agricultural landscape). The spread of a population in such patchy landscapes is captured by so-called meta-population models. In the past 4 years a number of publications have begun to appear which study the dynamics of foodwebs in patchy landscapes, so-called meta-foodwebs. This has created a situation where strong synergies can be exploited. On the one hand, ecology can profit from newly-developed mathematical tools for the study of multilayer networks, which are currently emerging in network science. On the other hand, for network science meta-foodwebs provide an invaluable real-world example.
This project is part of a larger research unit "For 1748: Networks on Networks", which focuses on the study of meta-foodwebs from a networks perspective. In particular the research unit will develop early warning signals that can be used to monitor real-world meta-foodwebs and warn of impending collapse. Furthermore research will reveal sources of spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal heterogeneity in these networks. This is interesting from a mathematical/physical perspective, as the central drivers of pattern formation are phenomena such as Anderson Localization and Turing instabilities, which have not been studied in dynamic multi-layer networks. The result of these investiagtions is also expected to be highly relevant for ecology as spacial and temporal heterogeneities are thought to be central drivers for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
This project is part of a larger research unit "For 1748: Networks on Networks", which focuses on the study of meta-foodwebs from a networks perspective. In particular the research unit will develop early warning signals that can be used to monitor real-world meta-foodwebs and warn of impending collapse. Furthermore research will reveal sources of spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal heterogeneity in these networks. This is interesting from a mathematical/physical perspective, as the central drivers of pattern formation are phenomena such as Anderson Localization and Turing instabilities, which have not been studied in dynamic multi-layer networks. The result of these investiagtions is also expected to be highly relevant for ecology as spacial and temporal heterogeneities are thought to be central drivers for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Planned Impact
This project will advance the state of the art of network science by developing new approaches and algorithms for dynamic multilayer networks. Moreover it will establish ecological meta-foodwebs as a paradigmatic class of real world systems that form dynamic multilayer networks. It will thus greatly enrich research in this field by providing a much-needed real world examples of dynamic multi-layer networks in the real world.
The project will create impact in ecology by advancing the understanding of the functioning of meta-foodwebs. In particular the project will deliver new insights into the formation of spatial, temporal and spatio-temporal patterns in these systems, which are essential for biodiversity maintenance. In particular we seek to reveal the impact of spatial habitat structure on the dynamics, which will be valuable for planning decisions and thus can have an impact on policy. Furthermore, we will develop an algorithms that can be used to provide early warning of impending critical transitions and thus aid in safeguarding endangered ecosystems.
The approaches and algorithms developed in this project will be applicable to the vast range of systems that can be described as dynamic multi-layer networks. In particular we see plentiful applications in the monitoring of technical systems, such as large IT systems.
The project will create impact in ecology by advancing the understanding of the functioning of meta-foodwebs. In particular the project will deliver new insights into the formation of spatial, temporal and spatio-temporal patterns in these systems, which are essential for biodiversity maintenance. In particular we seek to reveal the impact of spatial habitat structure on the dynamics, which will be valuable for planning decisions and thus can have an impact on policy. Furthermore, we will develop an algorithms that can be used to provide early warning of impending critical transitions and thus aid in safeguarding endangered ecosystems.
The approaches and algorithms developed in this project will be applicable to the vast range of systems that can be described as dynamic multi-layer networks. In particular we see plentiful applications in the monitoring of technical systems, such as large IT systems.
Organisations
- University of Bristol (Lead Research Organisation)
- Natural Environment Research Council (Co-funder)
- Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (Collaboration)
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU) (Collaboration)
- Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (Collaboration)
- University of Leipzig (Collaboration)
- University of Potsdam (Collaboration)
Publications
Yeakel JD
(2018)
Eco-evolutionary dynamics, density-dependent dispersal and collective behaviour: implications for salmon metapopulation robustness.
in Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
Yeakel JD
(2020)
Diverse interactions and ecosystem engineering can stabilize community assembly.
in Nature communications
Gross T
(2020)
Modern models of trophic meta-communities.
in Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
Ghafourian A
(2020)
Wireless localization with diffusion maps.
in Scientific reports
Doizy A
(2018)
Impact of cyber-invasive species on a large ecological network.
in Scientific reports
Brechtel A
(2018)
Master stability functions reveal diffusion-driven pattern formation in networks.
in Physical review. E
Brechtel A
(2019)
Far-ranging generalist top predators enhance the stability of meta-foodwebs.
in Scientific reports
Description | We have uncovered the intriguing and complex way in which spatial structure of an ecosystem affects biodiversity in colonization-extinction meta-foodwebs (a class of ecological models). We have also reached the main goal of reconstructing a Jacobian from time series, and developed a method for constructing early warning signs for critical transitions that works in high dimensional systems (a publication on the subject is currently in preprint). |
Exploitation Route | We have established methodologies for assessing the impact of spatial structure for the conservation of biodiversity. This may feed into planning processes for conservation areas. But currently we need too much data in order for this to be useful in the ecological application. There is reasonable hope that data demands can be reduced. The developed methods could also be applied more broadly to study the resilience of other systems other systems - such as power grids, traffic systems, and stockmarkets - that form networks in physical space. |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Energy Environment Financial Services and Management Consultancy Government Democracy and Justice Security and Diplomacy Transport |
URL | http://www.for1748.de |
Title | Early Warning signals for critical transitions in high dimensional systems |
Description | We have developed a method for the construction of early warning signals, that can alert stakeholders of impending critical transitions. In contrast to earlier methods, our approach is based on reconstruction of the Jacobian matrix from time series. Its advantage is that it can be applied to large high-dimensional non-linear systems and even performs better in larger systems. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Publication is still in preparation. |
Title | Master Stability Function Approach for Food Web Dynamics |
Description | We developed a mathematical method that allows the highly efficient analysis of the onset of pattern formation in complex network of nonlinearly coupled dynamical units that are that are embedded in space. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | no Impact yet. Publication in press. |
URL | https://journals.aps.org/pre/accepted/b907fK56Qed15b0fc10f4895c3d6537093f9ebc80 |
Title | Generalized Meta-Foodweb model |
Description | We have formulated a generalized model of meta-foodwebs. This is the first model of this kind. Publication is in Press. |
Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | No impact yet. |
URL | https://journals.aps.org/pre/accepted/b907fK56Qed15b0fc10f4895c3d6537093f9ebc80 |
Description | FOR 1748 |
Organisation | Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The project is part of the German research Unit For 1748. We are in close contact with other members of this unit. We have contributed much of the theoretical groundwork the research unit is using, including mathematical approaches for the analysis of large ecological networks embedded in physical space. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners have funded exchange visits of research assistants and investigators as well several mutli-day workshops. They have also contributed experimental data and numerical simulation results. For example we have one major paper that is presently in press where our lab formulated the theory, and then the Darmstadt lab implemented it an ran extensive tests. The published paper is a result of intense discussions with the Oldenburg group and also directly profited from interactions with external invitees at workshops. |
Impact | This is a multidisciplinary collaboration between the Bristol lab (Mathematics), Darmstadt (Physics), Oldenburg (Environmental Sciences), Jena (Experimental Ecology), and Potsdam (Theoretical Ecology). The first published output is Barter and Gross, Scientific Reports 7, 8890, 2017. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | FOR 1748 |
Organisation | Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The project is part of the German research Unit For 1748. We are in close contact with other members of this unit. We have contributed much of the theoretical groundwork the research unit is using, including mathematical approaches for the analysis of large ecological networks embedded in physical space. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners have funded exchange visits of research assistants and investigators as well several mutli-day workshops. They have also contributed experimental data and numerical simulation results. For example we have one major paper that is presently in press where our lab formulated the theory, and then the Darmstadt lab implemented it an ran extensive tests. The published paper is a result of intense discussions with the Oldenburg group and also directly profited from interactions with external invitees at workshops. |
Impact | This is a multidisciplinary collaboration between the Bristol lab (Mathematics), Darmstadt (Physics), Oldenburg (Environmental Sciences), Jena (Experimental Ecology), and Potsdam (Theoretical Ecology). The first published output is Barter and Gross, Scientific Reports 7, 8890, 2017. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | FOR 1748 |
Organisation | Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU) |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The project is part of the German research Unit For 1748. We are in close contact with other members of this unit. We have contributed much of the theoretical groundwork the research unit is using, including mathematical approaches for the analysis of large ecological networks embedded in physical space. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners have funded exchange visits of research assistants and investigators as well several mutli-day workshops. They have also contributed experimental data and numerical simulation results. For example we have one major paper that is presently in press where our lab formulated the theory, and then the Darmstadt lab implemented it an ran extensive tests. The published paper is a result of intense discussions with the Oldenburg group and also directly profited from interactions with external invitees at workshops. |
Impact | This is a multidisciplinary collaboration between the Bristol lab (Mathematics), Darmstadt (Physics), Oldenburg (Environmental Sciences), Jena (Experimental Ecology), and Potsdam (Theoretical Ecology). The first published output is Barter and Gross, Scientific Reports 7, 8890, 2017. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | FOR 1748 |
Organisation | University of Leipzig |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The project is part of the German research Unit For 1748. We are in close contact with other members of this unit. We have contributed much of the theoretical groundwork the research unit is using, including mathematical approaches for the analysis of large ecological networks embedded in physical space. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners have funded exchange visits of research assistants and investigators as well several mutli-day workshops. They have also contributed experimental data and numerical simulation results. For example we have one major paper that is presently in press where our lab formulated the theory, and then the Darmstadt lab implemented it an ran extensive tests. The published paper is a result of intense discussions with the Oldenburg group and also directly profited from interactions with external invitees at workshops. |
Impact | This is a multidisciplinary collaboration between the Bristol lab (Mathematics), Darmstadt (Physics), Oldenburg (Environmental Sciences), Jena (Experimental Ecology), and Potsdam (Theoretical Ecology). The first published output is Barter and Gross, Scientific Reports 7, 8890, 2017. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | FOR 1748 |
Organisation | University of Potsdam |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The project is part of the German research Unit For 1748. We are in close contact with other members of this unit. We have contributed much of the theoretical groundwork the research unit is using, including mathematical approaches for the analysis of large ecological networks embedded in physical space. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners have funded exchange visits of research assistants and investigators as well several mutli-day workshops. They have also contributed experimental data and numerical simulation results. For example we have one major paper that is presently in press where our lab formulated the theory, and then the Darmstadt lab implemented it an ran extensive tests. The published paper is a result of intense discussions with the Oldenburg group and also directly profited from interactions with external invitees at workshops. |
Impact | This is a multidisciplinary collaboration between the Bristol lab (Mathematics), Darmstadt (Physics), Oldenburg (Environmental Sciences), Jena (Experimental Ecology), and Potsdam (Theoretical Ecology). The first published output is Barter and Gross, Scientific Reports 7, 8890, 2017. |
Start Year | 2016 |