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Trophic similarity

In the first analyses, the aggregations were based on trophic similarity. Dissimilarity in network structure increased as the difference in resolution increased. This is true for both complete and single methods of hierarchical clustering.  

The correlation between dissimilarity in network structure and difference in resolution was significant for all five linkage methods for the complete clustering method and for the single clustering method. 

Dissimilarity of motif frequencies increased with increasing difference in resolution. In every step of resolution five networks were compiled with different linkage criteria between the aggregated nodes, marked with separate lines. Results were similar for all linkage criteria. Change in resolution describes the difference in level of resolution between two aggregated networks. A point at change in resolution of 0.1 is a comparison between two aggregated networks which have a difference of 10% in trophic similarity (e.g. one network with 100% trophic similarity and the other one with 90% trophic similarity). For every regression 55 comparisons were performed.

Taxonomic groups

In the second set of analyses, the aggregations were based on taxonomic groups. Dissimilarity in network structure increased as the difference in resolution increased. 
 
The correlation between dissimilarity in network structure and difference in resolution was significant for all five linkage methods. 
Dissimilarity of motif frequencies increased with increasing difference in resolution. In every step of resolution five networks were compiled with different linkage criteria between the aggregated nodes, marked with separate lines. Results were similar for all linkage criteria. Change in resolution describes the difference in level of resolution between two aggregated networks. A point at change in resolution of 1 is a comparison between two aggregated networks which have a difference of 1 step between their taxonomy groups (e.g. a network with taxonomy group genus and the other with taxonomy group family). For every regression 10 comparisons were performed.

Spatial scale

In the third set of analyses, the aggregations were based on spatial distribution of subwebs.  Dissimilarity in network structure did not increase as the difference in resolution increased 

The correlation between dissimilarity in network structure and difference in resolution was not significant for any of the clustering methods, for the complete method and the single method.

Dissimilarity of motif frequencies did not increase with increasing difference between spatial scale. The line marks the mean of the dissimilarities. Change in spatial scale describes the difference in level of spatial scale at which two subweb clusters have been compiled. A point at change in spatial scale of 0 is a comparison between two subweb clusters which have been clustered at the same distance of spatial scale (e.g. two different subweb clusters aggregated at a distance of 100 km). In the complete linkage method 1378 comparisons were performed. In the single linkage method 210 comparisons were performed.


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Last updated: 05/28/18