Purpose - This study aims to understand what paradoxical tensions arise within an ecosystem when companies collectively pursue digital servitization and how these tensions impact value co-creation. Method -  The study is an explorative single-case study based on the mining industry in Sweden and involves respondents from industry-leading organizations. A total of 30 interviews were conducted and analyzed through a thematic analysis. Findings – Our study has identified five paradoxical tensions that arise during the process of digital servitization in ecosystems. These tensions are the paradox of competition and cooperation, the tension between IP sharing and control preservation, the tension of skill transition and reluctance to change, the tension between traditional identity and digital identity, and the need to balance data access and data security. The findings also identified the impact that the tensions have on value co-creation. Theoretical contributions – Our study demonstrates the intricate nature of tensions within ecosystems, revealing their multifaceted origins stemming from factors such as ecosystem coopetition, organizational identity dynamics, and data utilization practices. Additionally, we highlight that these tensions can manifest at two levels: within organizations and between ecosystem partners. Our research provides a more nuanced understanding of the complex and multi-faceted nature of tensions in ecosystems. Managerial contributions – This study provides valuable insights for managers of the impact on value co-creation of paradoxical tensions within a digital servitization ecosystem. We highlight the significance of recognizing and addressing tensions in ecosystem collaborations. By unpacking the complexity of tensions, we contribute to mitigating conflicts and enhancing the effectiveness of business ecosystems in practical settings. Limitations – This research is based on a single case study in the mining industry. Therefore, there are opportunities for future research to investigate the applicability of the findings in other industrial contexts. / Syfte - Denna studie syftar till att förstå vilka paradoxala spänningar som uppstår inom ett ekosystem när företag gemensamt strävar efter digital tjänstefiering och hur dessa spänningar påverkar värdeskapande. Metod - Studien är en utforskande fallstudie baserad på gruvindustrin i Sverige och involverar respondenter från ledande organisationer inom branschen. Totalt 30 intervjuer genomfördes och analyserades genom tematisk analys. Resultat - Vår studie har identifierat fem paradoxala spänningar som uppstår under processen med digital tjänstefiering i ekosystem. Dessa spänningar är paradoxen mellan konkurrens och samarbete, spänningen mellan delning av immateriella tillgångar och bevarande av kontroll, spänningen mellan färdighetsövergång och motvilja till förändring, spänningen mellan traditionell identitet och digital identitet samt behovet av att balansera åtkomst till data och datasäkerhet. Resultaten identifierade även hur spänningarna påverkar värdeskapande. Teoretiskt bidrag - Vår studie visar den komplexa naturen av spänningar inom ekosystem, och avslöjar deras mångfacetterade ursprung från faktorer som ekosystemets samverkan och konkurrens, organisationers identitetsdynamik och praxis för dataanvändning. Dessutom betonar vi att dessa spänningar kan yttra sig på två nivåer: inom organisationer och mellan ekosystempartners. Vår forskning ger en mer nyanserad förståelse för spänningarnas komplexa och mångfacetterade natur i ekosystem. Praktiskt bidrag - Denna studie ger värdefulla insikter för ledare om påverkan av paradoxala spänningar på värdeskapandet inom ett digitalt tjänstefierings-ekosystem. Vi belyser vikten av att erkänna och hantera spänningar i ekosystemssamarbeten. Genom att avveckla komplexiteten i spänningar bidrar vi till att mildra konflikter och öka effektiviteten hos affärs-ekosystemen i praktiska sammanhang. Begränsningar - Denna forskning baseras på en fallstudie i gruvindustrin. Därför finns det möjligheter för framtida forskning att undersöka tillämpbarheten av resultaten i andra industriella sammanhang.

Ecological interactions within a community shape the structure of ecosystems and influence ecosystem function. Plant-pollinator interactions exist as mutualistic exchange networks that may collapse as habitat loss occurs, thereby threatening the overall health of an ecosystem. Understanding the impacts of human-mediated habitat disturbance on ecological interactions is therefore crucial for conservation efforts. Archbold Biological Station (ABS) in Venus, Florida contains over 2000 hectares of protected Florida scrub habitat nested within a human-dominated environment that is threatened by anthropogenic habitat disturbance. In past studies, over 113 bee species and 157 associated host plants, many endemic to the Lake Wales Ridge, have been found on ABS property, providing an understanding of this system's plant-bee network. Using those data as a baseline, this study investigated the effects of varying levels of mechanical habitat disturbance intensity on the diversity and network structure of plant-bee interaction networks. Flowering plant abundance, richness, diversity, and composition as well as bee abundance and composition were significantly different across mechanical habitat disturbance levels. Interactions between bees and flowering plants also differed with varying disturbance intensity. From these results, it is clear that plants, bees and interactions between them are impacted by mechanical habitat disturbance in this system. This project informs management efforts not only for natural systems with the threat of alteration, but also for agricultural systems, many of which heavily rely on flower visitation by bee pollinators. This research also contributes to the growing field of interaction ecology by increasing understanding of habitat alteration effects on a valuable ecological interaction and ultimately ecosystem function.

The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) is a central issue in soil and microbial ecology. To date, most belowground BEF studies focus on the diversity of microbes analyzed by barcoding on total DNA, which targets both active and inactive microbes. This approach creates a bias as it mixes the part of the microbiome currently steering processes that provide actual ecosystem functions with the part not directly involved. Using experimental extensive grasslands under current and future climate, we used the bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunocapture technique combined with pair-end Illumina sequencing to characterize both total and active microbiomes (including both bacteria and fungi) in the rhizosphere of Trifolium pratense. Rhizosphere function was assessed by measuring the activity of three microbial extracellular enzymes (β-glucosidase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, and acid phosphatase), which play central roles in the C, N, and P acquisition. We showed that the richness of overall and specific functional groups of active microbes in rhizosphere soil significantly correlated with the measured enzyme activities, while total microbial richness did not. Active microbes of the rhizosphere represented 42.8 and 32.1% of the total bacterial and fungal taxa, respectively, and were taxonomically and functionally diverse. Nitrogen fixing bacteria were highly active in this system with 71% of the total operational taxonomic units (OTUs) assigned to this group detected as active. We found the total and active microbiomes to display different responses to variations in soil physicochemical factors in the grassland, but with some degree of resistance to a manipulation mimicking future climate. Our findings provide critical insights into the role of active microbes in defining soil ecosystem functions in a grassland ecosystem. We demonstrate that the relationship between biodiversity-ecosystem functioning in soil may be stronger than previously thought.

Coastal restoration has become a necessary and ubiquitous practice to enhance and conserve the many ecosystem services lost by marsh degradation. Wave climate is one of the most critical factors to consider for restoration projects. However, knowledge of the ways that waves affect marsh plants and the ecosystem services they provide is limited. The purpose of my dissertation was to improve the effectiveness of coastal marsh restoration by addressing the limitations and gaps associated with plant and ecosystem responses to waves through empirical research with three primary goals: 1) develop and test a low-cost wave gauge, 2) use it to compare above- and below-ground plant growth responses along a wave climate gradient, and 3) evaluate the effects of waves on nutrient removal in constructed marshes. I used three field and laboratory experiments to accomplish these goals. The low-cost wave gauge was developed using an Arduino microcontroller and various accessories. After development, the gauge was evaluated against a commercial gauge in a series of laboratory and field tests. Comparisons revealed over 90% agreement between the gauges and confirmed the applicability of the low-cost gauge. A total of thirty gauges were then constructed and deployed at sites within Mobile Bay, Alabama and surrounding tributaries. In addition to wave energy, plant data was also collected at each site, including above- and below-ground biomass, shoot density, height, and diameter. These data suggested that waves affect plant growth responses in ways not explained by the current plant response paradigm. For example, while greater diameter shoots best attenuate waves, shoot diameter declined with greater wave exposure in this study. This response was common among the study species. Other plant responses were species-specific. Finally, a field experiment was constructed to examine the main and interactive effects of sediment type, initial planting density, platform slope, and platform position at sites exposed to and protected from waves. Results from this experiment suggested that waves may potentially mitigate the effective removal potential of constructed marshes. Taken together, this dissertation advances research on plant responses to waves and provides new tools for land managers working on coastal restoration and conservation projects.

The State of Mississippi wants to manage its oyster resource to increase production, quality, ecological, and economic benefits. In this study, we employ modern portfolio theory (MPT) to test if there are potential gains to hold multiple oyster resources for multiple benefits to aid the state's effort in achieving its goal. Using a Delphi approach, we elicit complete sets of data on ecosystem services (on oxygen, nutrients, sedimentation, and salinity) across multiple oyster resources (traditional plantings, off-bottom farms, and restored reefs). A benefit transfer method is used later to assigned money-metric value to each service estimate. The multiple service values are then aggregated into net service value. We compute the means, standard deviations, and correlations of benefits across all resources using the net service values, and generate efficient frontiers from that information. Results indicate that Mississippi could benefit from holding multiple oyster resources while focusing more on off-bottom oyster farms.

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