Local facilitation may cause tipping points on a landscape level preceded by early warning indicators

摘要: Positive biotic interactions play a significant role in shaping ecological communities. We used an individual-based model to demonstrate that plant facilitation on microscale may cause ecosystem shifts landscape scale can be announced by generic early-warning indicators. Recruitment of woody plants harsh environments such as drylands often depends nurse ameliorate stressful conditions and facilitate the establishment seedlings under their canopy. found these facilitative treeless woodland state alternative stable states if effects are strong environment is enough make necessary for seedling survival. A corollary environmental change bring tipping points encroachment or collapse. show proximity indicated slowness recovery vegetation cover from small perturbations well elevated temporal spatial autocorrelation variance. These signs known indicators critical slowing down. This first demonstration systemic phenomena points, down warning signal, plausibly arise individual interactions, facilitation.