Modeling time-varying phytoplankton subsidy reveals at-risk species in a Chilean intertidal ecosystem
Abstract The allometric trophic network (ATN) framework for modeling population dynamics has provided numerous insights into ecosystem functioning in recent years. Herein we extend ATN modeling of the intertidal ecosystem off central Chile to include empirical data on pelagic chlorophyll-a concentra...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57108-9 |
| _version_ | 1797233684610285568 |
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| author | Casey Duckwall John L. Largier Evie A. Wieters Fernanda S. Valdovinos |
| author_facet | Casey Duckwall John L. Largier Evie A. Wieters Fernanda S. Valdovinos |
| author_sort | Casey Duckwall |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The allometric trophic network (ATN) framework for modeling population dynamics has provided numerous insights into ecosystem functioning in recent years. Herein we extend ATN modeling of the intertidal ecosystem off central Chile to include empirical data on pelagic chlorophyll-a concentration. This intertidal community requires subsidy of primary productivity to support its rich ecosystem. Previous work models this subsidy using a constant rate of phytoplankton input to the system. However, data shows pelagic subsidies exhibit highly variable, pulse-like behavior. The primary contribution of our work is incorporating this variable input into ATN modeling to simulate how this ecosystem may respond to pulses of pelagic phytoplankton. Our model results show that: (1) closely related sea snails respond differently to phytoplankton variability, which is explained by the underlying network structure of the food web; (2) increasing the rate of pelagic-intertidal mixing increases fluctuations in species’ biomasses that may increase the risk of local extirpation; (3) predators are the most sensitive species to phytoplankton biomass fluctuations, putting these species at greater risk of extirpation than others. Finally, our work provides a straightforward way to incorporate empirical, time-series data into the ATN framework that will expand this powerful methodology to new applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:20:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a05b65bae49d45f4a901554577ef345c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:20:05Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-a05b65bae49d45f4a901554577ef345c2024-03-31T11:15:51ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-0114111210.1038/s41598-024-57108-9Modeling time-varying phytoplankton subsidy reveals at-risk species in a Chilean intertidal ecosystemCasey Duckwall0John L. Largier1Evie A. Wieters2Fernanda S. Valdovinos3Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, DavisDepartment of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, DavisEstación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas and Millennium Nucleus for the Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Mesophotic Reef Ecosystems (NUTME), Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileDepartment of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, DavisAbstract The allometric trophic network (ATN) framework for modeling population dynamics has provided numerous insights into ecosystem functioning in recent years. Herein we extend ATN modeling of the intertidal ecosystem off central Chile to include empirical data on pelagic chlorophyll-a concentration. This intertidal community requires subsidy of primary productivity to support its rich ecosystem. Previous work models this subsidy using a constant rate of phytoplankton input to the system. However, data shows pelagic subsidies exhibit highly variable, pulse-like behavior. The primary contribution of our work is incorporating this variable input into ATN modeling to simulate how this ecosystem may respond to pulses of pelagic phytoplankton. Our model results show that: (1) closely related sea snails respond differently to phytoplankton variability, which is explained by the underlying network structure of the food web; (2) increasing the rate of pelagic-intertidal mixing increases fluctuations in species’ biomasses that may increase the risk of local extirpation; (3) predators are the most sensitive species to phytoplankton biomass fluctuations, putting these species at greater risk of extirpation than others. Finally, our work provides a straightforward way to incorporate empirical, time-series data into the ATN framework that will expand this powerful methodology to new applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57108-9 |
| spellingShingle | Casey Duckwall John L. Largier Evie A. Wieters Fernanda S. Valdovinos Modeling time-varying phytoplankton subsidy reveals at-risk species in a Chilean intertidal ecosystem Scientific Reports |
| title | Modeling time-varying phytoplankton subsidy reveals at-risk species in a Chilean intertidal ecosystem |
| title_full | Modeling time-varying phytoplankton subsidy reveals at-risk species in a Chilean intertidal ecosystem |
| title_fullStr | Modeling time-varying phytoplankton subsidy reveals at-risk species in a Chilean intertidal ecosystem |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modeling time-varying phytoplankton subsidy reveals at-risk species in a Chilean intertidal ecosystem |
| title_short | Modeling time-varying phytoplankton subsidy reveals at-risk species in a Chilean intertidal ecosystem |
| title_sort | modeling time varying phytoplankton subsidy reveals at risk species in a chilean intertidal ecosystem |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57108-9 |
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