A persistence enhancing propensity account of ecological function to explain ecosystem evolution

摘要: We argue that ecology in general and biodiversity ecosystem function (BEF) research particular need an understanding of functions which is both ahistorical evolutionarily grounded. A natural candidate this context Bigelow Pargetter’s (1987) evolutionary forward-looking account which, like the causal role account, assigns to parts integrated systems regardless their past history, but supplements with dimension relates bearers’ ability thrive perpetuate themselves. While focused on functional organization at level organisms, we such can be extended community levels a way broadens scope reconciliation between biology envisioned by many BEF researchers (e.g. Holt 1995; Loreau 2010a). By linking persistence-based evolution defended Bouchard (2008, 2011) others Bourrat 2014; Doolittle 2014), theoretical complex adaptive (Levin 1999, 2005; Norberg 2004), ecosystems, forming more or less resilient assemblages, evolve even while they do not reproduce form lineages. thus propose Persistence Enhancing Propensity (PEP) for overlap ecological processes.