Linking functional traits and network structure to concepts of stability

The objectives of this paper are to discuss stability as an emergent property of ecological systems, as well as promote a common language of network theory that will transfer among socio-ecological systems. Many researchers have understood the relationship between diversity and redundancy of species as network nodes, and even the response/effect trait framework aspect of this (i.e., overlapping traits associated with environmental response and ecosystem-level effects). Many researchers have also made the connections between network architecture and robustness, recognizing species interaction links as important aspects of architecture, but few papers incorporate concepts of diversity and redundancy for both nodes and links into aspects of architecture, and consequently network dynamics and stability. Using a common language framework of network theory and commonalities of network properties across outwardly different network types may reveal the existence of common constraints or determinants on network stability for ecological systems.