The effects of species interaction networks on emergent plant community properties

A stochastic grid-based simulation model was used to explore how interactions among species in a plant community affect various emergent properties of the community, including diversity, stability, resilience, invasibility, and sensitivity to initial species pool composition. A range of different theoretical species interaction networks were considered. The architecture of the network of species interactions was found to affect all community properties considered, as well as providing novel explanations for complex emergent relationships among these properties. The research provides new theoretical insights into the importance of species interactions in driving long-term plant community dynamics.