Island biogeography of species interaction Networks.

ongoing

Islands hold ca. 20% of the global biodiversity but have suffered disproportionally high extinction rates and many extant species are threatened. The vulnerability of island biodiversity is linked to drivers of global change like habitat degradation, invasive species, and also climate change. The loss of biodiversity is problematic, since it affects crucial ecosystem functions, such as animal-mediated pollination and seed dispersal, and increases the risk of emerging diseases. However, despite their importance, islands remain largely understudied compared to mainland counterparts. Specifically, there is a lack of empirical studies investigating the effects of insularity and environmental factors, such as climate, on the structure of interaction networks and the underlying ecosystem functions. Furthermore, while parasite infections influence population dynamics, their impact on ecosystem functions has been overlooked. IslandNet will take a crucial step forward by analysing the first empirical dataset on bird-mediated ecosystem functions, in combination with data on functional traits and parasite infections across the islands of the East Caribbean. Combining network theory, functional ecology, island biogeography and parasitology, will allow to disentangle effects of insularity, environmental factors, functional diversity and parasite infections on network structure and underlying ecosystem functions across an entire archipelago. By contributing better insight into the mechanisms driving network structure across islands, IslandNet will provide essential knowledge allowing to plan conservation measures to prevent future biodiversity loss. During this fellowship, I will receive crucial training by leading experts in the fields of biotic interactions and island biogeography at outstanding institutes. This experience will pace my way towards establishing my independence as a researcher in the fields of community ecology and global change with a focus on island ecosystems.