| Modeling food webs: exploring unexplained structure using latent traits. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20540609 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Several stochastic models have tried to capture the architecture of food webs. This approach is interesting, but it is limited by the fact that different assumptions can yield similar results. To overcome this limitation, we develop a purely statistical approach. Body size in terms of an optimal ratio between prey and predator is used as explanatory variable. In 12 observed food webs, this model predicts, on average, 20% of interactions. To analyze the unexplained part, we introduce a latent term: each species is described by two latent traits, foraging and vulnerability, that represent nonmeasured characteristics of species once the optimal body size has been accounted for. The model now correctly predicts an average of 73% of links. The key features of our approach are that latent traits quantify the structure that is left unexplained by the explanatory variable and that this quantification allows a test of whether independent biological information, such as microhabitat use, camouflage, or phylogeny, explains this structure. We illustrate this method with phylogeny and find that it is linked to one or both latent traits in nine of 12 food webs. Our approach opens the door to the formulation of more complex models that can be applied to any kind of biological network. |
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Authors:
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Rudolf Philippe Rohr; Heike Scherer; Patrik Kehrli; Christian Mazza; Louis-Félix Bersier |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: The American naturalist Volume: 176 ISSN: 1537-5323 ISO Abbreviation: Am. Nat. Publication Date: 2010 Aug |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-07-08 Completed Date: 2010-10-20 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 2984688R Medline TA: Am Nat Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 170-7 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Unit of Ecology and Evolution, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland. rudolf.rohr@unifr.ch |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Bayes Theorem Body Size Food Chain* Markov Chains Models, Biological* Monte Carlo Method Predatory Behavior Species Specificity |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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