Interaction networks to study biodiversity

Abstract

Biodiversity can be measured in many ways; this article addresses the novel idea of using interaction networks between species as an assessment method. Interaction networks are an analytical tool that describes how species in an ecosystem are related. Interaction networks allow us to go beyond knowing the participants —the species— of a staging —the ecosystem—. Through them we can know the role that each participant is playing and how they relate to each other, so that the staging can develop well. They give us a picture of how communities of species are associated in a given place and time, and allow us to evaluate the functioning of an ecosystem. With their study we can identify which are the most important species in an ecosystem, and this information can be used to carry out environmental restoration actions focusing on the central species.

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