Oxic-anoxic regime shifts mediated by feedbacks between biogeochemical processes and microbial community dynamics.

ABSTRACT: Although regime shifts are known from various ecosystems, the involvement of microbial communities is poorly understood. Here we show that gradual environmental changes induced by, for example, eutrophication or global warming can induce major oxic-anoxic regime shifts. We first investigate a mathematical model describing interactions between microbial communities and biogeochemical oxidation-reduction reactions. In response to gradual changes in oxygen influx, this model abruptly transitions between an oxic state dominated by cyanobacteria and an anoxic state with sulfate-reducing bacteria and phototrophic sulfur bacteria. The model predictions are consistent with observations from a seasonally stratified lake, which shows hysteresis in the transition between oxic and anoxic states with s

SUBMITTER: Bush T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5630580 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature