Zoogeochemical niche construction: how animal-mediated biogeochemistry affects evolution.

Abstract

Animals exert control over biogeochemical processes within their ecosystems - the study of which is called zoogeochemistry. However, most zoogeochemical research stops short of examining how animal-driven biogeochemical processes feed back to influence the fitness and population dynamics of organisms. We outline how to use niche construction theory to investigate these feedbacks, introducing zoogeochemical niche construction to explicitly link zoogeochemistry with fitness and evolution trajectories. We specifically highlight how this framework reveals the capacity of animals to influence their own nutritional landscapes, creating closed zoogeochemical loops. To identify and test instances of zoogeochemical niche construction, we present experimental, correlative, and comparative tools. The novel application of niche construction theory provides alternative and complementary explanations for animal trait evolution.