Investigating the role of facilitation for ecosystem dynamics and resilience

In harsh environments, individuals can modify their habitat and make it more hospitable for themselves and/or others by relieving the environmental stress. Although evidence on the importance of such positive interactions is accumulating in a wide range of ecosystems, they are largely ignored by current models in ecology. Including positive interactions into ecological theory may be key to understanding population and community processes in physically stressful habitats. Studies already showed that positive interactions in the form of habitat amelioration can have profound effects on the spatial distribution of organisms, on their abundance, and on ecosystem resilience. I am interested in the role of positive interactions for the functioning of ecological communities.

Furthermore, despite their potential importance for community resilience, little is known about the role of positive interactions embedded in complex networks in stabilizing or destabilizing communities. The aim of a current project is to study the functional role of positive interactions in ecological networks. How do positive interactions affect the functioning of ecological communities, as well as the response of these communities to changing external conditions ?

Some publications:

Danet, A. et al. 2024. Oikos.

Danet, A. et al. 2020. Theoretical Ecology.

Danet, A. et al. 2018. Journal of vegetation science.

Zélé, F. et al. 2018. Nature communications.

Danet, A. et al. 2017. Ecology and Evolution.

Kéfi, S. et al. 2016. Functional Ecology.

Kéfi, S. et al. 2008. The American Naturalist.

Kéfi, S. et al. 2007. Theoretical Population Biology.