Spatially cascading effect of perturbations in experimental meta-ecosystems.

ABSTRACT: Ecosystems are linked to neighbouring ecosystems not only by dispersal, but also by the movement of subsidy. Such subsidy couplings between ecosystems have important landscape-scale implications because perturbations in one ecosystem may affect community structure and functioning in neighbouring ecosystems via increased/decreased subsidies. Here, we combine a general theoretical approach based on harvesting theory and a two-patch protist meta-ecosystem experiment to test the effect of regional perturbations on local community dynamics. We first characterized the relationship between the perturbation regime and local population demography on detritus production using a mathematical model. We then experimentally simulated a perturbation gradient affecting connected ecosystems simultaneously,

SUBMITTER: Harvey E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5031665 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature