Facilitation in the conceptual melting pot

Rob W. Brooker, Ragan M. Callaway

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

1. Here we present an introduction to this issue's Special Feature arising from the British Ecological Society Symposium: Facilitation in Plant Communities (20-22 April 2009). 2. Papers in the Special Feature demonstrate the benefits that arise from cross-system application of general concepts, for example, the well-known stress gradient hypothesis. Such comparisons challenge our definition of facilitation, as well as our pre-conceptions on the nature of intermediary organisms. 3. We suggest that under some circumstances a clear definition of the two-way nature of interactions is essential, e.g. when considering the evolutionary implications of facilitation. In other cases, however, we can perhaps be more relaxed, e.g. when facilitation is a component of conservation ecology. 4.Synthesis. Overall we believe that establishing facilitation as an independent concept has driven substantial progress towards a clearer understanding of how ecological systems work. Through the links established by work such as that presented in this Special Feature, we believe this field will continue to make rapid progress and aid ecological understanding in general.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1117-1120
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Ecology
Volume97
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2009

Keywords

  • Competition
  • Facilitation
  • Mutualism
  • Parasitism
  • Plant-plant interactions
  • Soil organisms
  • Synthesis
  • Trophic interactions

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