Research Clusters: Cite Space Map
What are the clusters about?
The main cluster of articles, in the cite space map, provides an in depth discussion of trophic cascades and the effect of top down control ecosystems on biodiversity. Researchers have been monitoring ecosystems in an attempt to discover the key to conservation. Some believe that ecosystems are run based upon this idea of bottom up regulation, where the vegetation controls the populations of herbivores. This approach to ecosystem conservation has been mostly based upon evidence found in a study done on islands in Venezuela that lacked predators. The researchers found that the Howler Monkey populations were suppressed which indicates that the species is density dependant which results in a bottom up regulation (the plants were changing their chemical composition and increasing their herbivorous defenses in order to survive which ultimately reduces the amount of food available for the monkeys). Other researchers believe in the top down approach to ecosystem conservation. The top down approach is when the top predator of the ecosystem is controlling the populations of the trophic levels beneath it. A modern day example of this that is currently being studied is the otter-urchin-kelp interaction in the oceans. The otter was disappearing, primarily due to anthropogenic means, and, due to the decrease in their populations, the urchin population began to flourish. The increase in urchins resulted in the decrease of kelp in the oceans. The absence of the top predator, in this situation, the herbivores took over the ecosystem which led to the disappearance of vegetation. These two concepts, top down and bottom up regulation, are the primary concepts of the main cluster of the cite space map.
Why did the researchers spend time on this concept and what were the techniques used in the studies?
Each article in the map revolved around these main topics; however, all of the articles also tend to refer back to evidence found in fluvial ecosystems being the source of the research on these regulations. Researchers discovered the trophic cascade through observations and experiments of field ecologists who observed an organizing force that alternative predatory regimes could instill in fluvial zones. They began by studying the ecosystems in the oceans, lakes, ponds, etc to gain a better understanding of how top down and bottom up regulation works. They gradually moved on terrestrial landscapes and applied their findings to certain areas, starting with islands, which are isolated and easier to study. Over the years, researchers have come to find that many ecosystems are regulated by both the top down and the bottom up approach. Researchers are attempting to discover ways to conserve and rebuild our ecosystems but this complex approach creates a problem for them since it is difficult to put these concepts into practice together. Understanding ecological interactions between species, such as the otter-urchin-kelp example, is a challenge to the prediction of ecological dynamics and to the management of ecosystems.
Why are there not many clusters?
These article clusters are essential to the Rewilding controversy. They show how all of these articles connect through the study of trophic cascades and their effect on the biodiversity in an ecosystem. However, this controversy is too new and it is difficult to find many scientific articles that connect to each other in more than one way. Each cluster of the cite space map contains articles that either cite each other or are based upon the same topics; however, they lack more evidence on how Rewilding is key to restoring biodiversity around the globe. Trophic cascades seem to be the main focus of researchers but the need for more information outweighs the current evidence found on top down regulation. Researchers need to perform more experiments and make more observations so that they can produce results that connect all of their conclusions together. The ultimate reality is that the scientific world lacks the knowledge to make the Rewilding concept seem like a plausible solution to the increasing reduction in biodiversity.
MAIN ARTICLES USED IN THIS PAGE:
1. Trophic cascades revealed in diverse ecosystems by Michael L. Pace, Jonathan J. Cole, Stephen R. Carpenter and James F. Kitchell
2. Ecological Meltdown in Predator-Free Forest Fragments http://www.sciencemag.org/content/294/5548/1923.full
The main cluster of articles, in the cite space map, provides an in depth discussion of trophic cascades and the effect of top down control ecosystems on biodiversity. Researchers have been monitoring ecosystems in an attempt to discover the key to conservation. Some believe that ecosystems are run based upon this idea of bottom up regulation, where the vegetation controls the populations of herbivores. This approach to ecosystem conservation has been mostly based upon evidence found in a study done on islands in Venezuela that lacked predators. The researchers found that the Howler Monkey populations were suppressed which indicates that the species is density dependant which results in a bottom up regulation (the plants were changing their chemical composition and increasing their herbivorous defenses in order to survive which ultimately reduces the amount of food available for the monkeys). Other researchers believe in the top down approach to ecosystem conservation. The top down approach is when the top predator of the ecosystem is controlling the populations of the trophic levels beneath it. A modern day example of this that is currently being studied is the otter-urchin-kelp interaction in the oceans. The otter was disappearing, primarily due to anthropogenic means, and, due to the decrease in their populations, the urchin population began to flourish. The increase in urchins resulted in the decrease of kelp in the oceans. The absence of the top predator, in this situation, the herbivores took over the ecosystem which led to the disappearance of vegetation. These two concepts, top down and bottom up regulation, are the primary concepts of the main cluster of the cite space map.
Why did the researchers spend time on this concept and what were the techniques used in the studies?
Each article in the map revolved around these main topics; however, all of the articles also tend to refer back to evidence found in fluvial ecosystems being the source of the research on these regulations. Researchers discovered the trophic cascade through observations and experiments of field ecologists who observed an organizing force that alternative predatory regimes could instill in fluvial zones. They began by studying the ecosystems in the oceans, lakes, ponds, etc to gain a better understanding of how top down and bottom up regulation works. They gradually moved on terrestrial landscapes and applied their findings to certain areas, starting with islands, which are isolated and easier to study. Over the years, researchers have come to find that many ecosystems are regulated by both the top down and the bottom up approach. Researchers are attempting to discover ways to conserve and rebuild our ecosystems but this complex approach creates a problem for them since it is difficult to put these concepts into practice together. Understanding ecological interactions between species, such as the otter-urchin-kelp example, is a challenge to the prediction of ecological dynamics and to the management of ecosystems.
Why are there not many clusters?
These article clusters are essential to the Rewilding controversy. They show how all of these articles connect through the study of trophic cascades and their effect on the biodiversity in an ecosystem. However, this controversy is too new and it is difficult to find many scientific articles that connect to each other in more than one way. Each cluster of the cite space map contains articles that either cite each other or are based upon the same topics; however, they lack more evidence on how Rewilding is key to restoring biodiversity around the globe. Trophic cascades seem to be the main focus of researchers but the need for more information outweighs the current evidence found on top down regulation. Researchers need to perform more experiments and make more observations so that they can produce results that connect all of their conclusions together. The ultimate reality is that the scientific world lacks the knowledge to make the Rewilding concept seem like a plausible solution to the increasing reduction in biodiversity.
MAIN ARTICLES USED IN THIS PAGE:
1. Trophic cascades revealed in diverse ecosystems by Michael L. Pace, Jonathan J. Cole, Stephen R. Carpenter and James F. Kitchell
2. Ecological Meltdown in Predator-Free Forest Fragments http://www.sciencemag.org/content/294/5548/1923.full