Mark Bertness

Nov 1, 2023 | cell.com | Christine Angelini |Mark Bertness |Andrew Altieri |Patrick H. Saldaña

Highlights The powerful community-structuring roles of foundation species (FS) are well recognized; however, ecological interactions involving their dead structures have yet to be broadly integrated within ecological theory or ecosystem management. As interacting components of ecosystems, dead foundation species (DFS) modify environments and mediate feedbacks underpinning ecosystem resilience. DFS are vulnerable to global change and often respond differently than living FS.