The special issue "Connected interactions: enriching food web research by spatial and social interactions" edited by Fernanda S. Valdovinos, Antonio Bodini, and Ferenc Jordán was recently published in Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society B.
Food webs have been the most studied species-interaction networks; traditionally, they concentrated on "who eats whom" and involved simple networks of matter and energy flows. However, research has shifted towards more diverse and complex interactions in the last few decades.
This theme issue features 18 papers exploring ecological interactions, encompassing metabolic, social, and spatial connections alongside traditional trophic networks. These studies show the importance of vertical integration by bridging the gaps between traditional horizontal perspectives and incorporating multiple organizational levels and spatial scales, demonstrating the importance of considering diverse interactions in understanding ecosystem dynamics.
Valdovinos, F.S., Bodini A, Jordán F. (2024). Connected interactions: enriching food web research by spatial and social interactions. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B; 379: 20230163. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2023.0163.
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