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\begin{document}

\title{BIGC - PREreview of ``Exotic species dominate due to niche overlap in a
complex grassland community''}



\author[1]{Rodrigo R. Granjel }%
\author[2]{Ignasi Bartomeus}%
\author[3]{carloszaragozatrello}%
\author[3]{Oscar Godoy}%
\author[4]{Miguel}%
\affil[1]{University of Seville}%
\affil[2]{EBD-CSIC}%
\affil[3]{Affiliation not available}%
\affil[4]{Estación Biológica de Doñana}%


\vspace{-1em}



  
  \date{May 17, 2024}


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\selectlanguage{english}
\begin{abstract}
This is a preprint journal club review of \textbf{``Exotic species
dominate due to niche overlap in a complex grassland community''} by
Lawrence H. Uricchio, S. Caroline Daws, Erin R. Spear and Erin A.
Mordecai. Te preprint was originally posted on bioRxiv on January 15,
2018 (DOI:~
~\url{https://doi.org/10.1101/253518})~\url{https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/01/24/253518}.~\emph{Our
group Biotic Interactions and Global~Change (BIGC)}~\emph{reviewed this
paper in~February 2018.}%
\end{abstract}%



\sloppy


\section*{Overview:}

{\label{983026}}

We selected this manuscript for our lab meeting because we are
interested in biotic determinants of plant coexistence, particularly
using Chesson's framework, as part of our group is working on this
topic.

\par\null

The paper aims to test the effects of competition and pathogens in
stabilizing Californian perennial grassland communities invaded by
exotic plant species. For that, the authors develop a population
dynamical model which accounts for the particularities of the lifespan
of 2 native (perennial) and 3 exotic (annual) plant species. Estimates
of each parameter of the model are obtained from field observations and
experiments.~The dynamical population model predicts that native species
will be able to persist within the invasion of the exotic grass
species.~ In this model, priority effects are to a large extent
responsible for explaining the persistence of native species.
Importantly and contrarily to expects pathogens~

play a minor role in determining the coexistence of native and exotic
plant species.~

\par\null

\section*{Positive feedback:}

{\label{822606}}

We agreed~that the paper was very interesting in exploring the role of
pathogens in coexistence. Also, it presents a nice framework to apply
principles from coexistence to species with different life-history
(annual and perennial plants), with the theoretical and methodological
challenges that is supposes. Overall, this makes a very nice
contribution to the scientific literature.~

\par\null

\section*{Main concerns:}

{\label{821730}}

The main concerns that we discussed in our lab meeting were:

\begin{itemize}
\tightlist
\item
  We wondered whether the paper is able to~calculate niche and fitness
  differences explicitly. Right now it uses the GRWR (growth rate when
  rare) instead, which is a combination of both. So far, the calculation
  of niche and fitness differences has become reasonable straighforward
  when working with species with annual life cycle, but this paper among
  a few others (Chu and Adler 2015 Ecol. Mon.) show the difficulties
  when species with longer and more complicate life cycles are
  included.~
\item
  Perhaps the model is too complex (too many parameters) for the low
  accuracy that achieves explaining the patterns found natural
  communities. We discussed that there is a trade-off between simplicity
  and realism when building~models that must be considered depending on
  each particular case of study. Simple models can be useful to infer
  mechanisms even when its predictive power is low, on the other end
  complex models can be useful when they have high predictive power. But
  in between this two extremes, models enter a grey area where they may
  stop being useful. This is acknowledged by the authors who provide
  alternative explanations to put in agreement their results with what
  is observed in the field at larger scales.
\end{itemize}

\par\null

\section*{Other thoughts and future
prospects:}

{\label{343000}}

Overall, we think that in~the years to come it would be awesome to
advance the development of mathematical tools to estimate niche and
fitness differences for other communities besides the annual plant
communities as the example of the present native perennial Californian
grasslands. We also felt that given the theoretical nature of the paper,
the direct conservation implications of this work do not marriage well
in the paper, and this section could be shortened. Finally, we
congratulate the authors for their work and we hope seen it published in
an international journal soon.~

\par\null\par\null

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