From species sorting to mass effects: spatial network structure mediates the shift between metacommunity archetypes

Local assemblages are embedded in networks of communities connected by dispersal, and understanding the processes that mediate this local–regional interaction is central to biodiversity patterns. In network (i.e. metacommunity), strength dispersal relative intensity environmental selection typically determines whether local comprised species well-adapted environment sorting) or dominated regionally successful may not be locally adapted mass effects), which extension capacity landscape sustain diversity. Despite fundamentally spatial nature these dispersal-mediated processes, much our theoretical comes from spatially implicit systems, a special case structure patches all each other equally. many real both connections among topology) distributions environments across autocorrelation) arranged uniformly. Here, we use metacommunity model investigate how heterogeneities change balance between sorting versus effects diversity outcomes. Our simulations show that, general, generates an outlier patterns compared networks, most likely amplifies sorting. Network topology has strong effect on outcome, with topologies sparse few loops promoting into suitable patches. Spatial autocorrelation another key factor; interacting topology, intermediate-scale clusters similar can emerge, leading reduction regional competition, hence maintenance gamma These results provide better role complex plays necessary step relate conservation.