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Gough CM, Buma B, Jentsch A, Mathes KC, Fahey RT. Disturbance theory for ecosystem ecologists: A primer. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11403. [PMID: 38826158 PMCID: PMC11139967 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding what regulates ecosystem functional responses to disturbance is essential in this era of global change. However, many pioneering and still influential disturbance-related theorie proposed by ecosystem ecologists were developed prior to rapid global change, and before tools and metrics were available to test them. In light of new knowledge and conceptual advances across biological disciplines, we present four disturbance ecology concepts that are particularly relevant to ecosystem ecologists new to the field: (a) the directionality of ecosystem functional response to disturbance; (b) functional thresholds; (c) disturbance-succession interactions; and (d) diversity-functional stability relationships. We discuss how knowledge, theory, and terminology developed by several biological disciplines, when integrated, can enhance how ecosystem ecologists analyze and interpret functional responses to disturbance. For example, when interpreting thresholds and disturbance-succession interactions, ecosystem ecologists should consider concurrent biotic regime change, non-linearity, and multiple response pathways, typically the theoretical and analytical domain of population and community ecologists. Similarly, the interpretation of ecosystem functional responses to disturbance requires analytical approaches that recognize disturbance can promote, inhibit, or fundamentally change ecosystem functions. We suggest that truly integrative approaches and knowledge are essential to advancing ecosystem functional responses to disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Gough
- Department of Biology, College of Humanities & SciencesVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginiaUSA
| | - Brian Buma
- Environmental Defense FundBoulderColoradoUSA
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Colorado DenverDenverColoradoUSA
| | - Anke Jentsch
- Department of Disturbance Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER)University of BayreuthBayreuthGermany
| | - Kayla C. Mathes
- Department of Biology, College of Humanities & SciencesVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginiaUSA
| | - Robert T. Fahey
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment & Center for Environmental Sciences and EngineeringUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
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Strickland BA, Patrick CJ, Carvallo FR, Kinard SK, Solis AT, Reese BK, Hogan JD. Long-term climate and hydrologic regimes shape stream invertebrate community responses to a hurricane disturbance. J Anim Ecol 2024. [PMID: 38764208 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Disturbances can produce a spectrum of short- and long-term ecological consequences that depend on complex interactions of the characteristics of the event, antecedent environmental conditions, and the intrinsic properties of resistance and resilience of the affected biological system. We used Hurricane Harvey's impact on coastal rivers of Texas to examine the roles of storm-related changes in hydrology and long-term precipitation regime on the response of stream invertebrate communities to hurricane disturbance. We detected declines in richness, diversity and total abundance following the storm, but responses were strongly tied to direct and indirect effects of long-term aridity and short-term changes in stream hydrology. The amount of rainfall a site received drove both flood duration and flood magnitude across sites, but lower annual rainfall amounts (i.e. aridity) increased flood magnitude and decreased flood duration. Across all sites, flood duration was positively related to the time it took for invertebrate communities to return to a long-term baseline and flood magnitude drove larger invertebrate community responses (i.e. changes in diversity and total abundance). However, invertebrate response per unit flood magnitude was lower in sub-humid sites, potentially because of differences in refuge availability or ecological-evolutionary interactions. Interestingly, sub-humid streams had temporary large peaks in invertebrate total abundance and diversity following recovery period that may be indicative of the larger organic matter pulses expected in these systems because of their comparatively well-developed riparian vegetation. Our findings show that hydrology and long-term precipitation regime predictably affected invertebrate community responses and, thus, our work underscores the important influence of local climate to ecosystem sensitivity to disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley A Strickland
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William and Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, USA
| | - Christopher J Patrick
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William and Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, USA
| | - Fernando R Carvallo
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
| | - Sean K Kinard
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William and Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, USA
| | - Alexander T Solis
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William and Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, USA
| | - Brandi Kiel Reese
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama, USA
- University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
| | - J Derek Hogan
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
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3
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Hoang DQ, Wilson LR, Scheftgen AJ, Suen G, Currie CR. Disturbance-diversity relationships of microbial communities change based on growth substrate. mSystems 2024; 9:e0088723. [PMID: 38259105 PMCID: PMC10878081 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00887-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Disturbance events can impact ecological community dynamics. Understanding how communities respond to disturbances and how those responses can vary is a challenge in microbial ecology. In this study, we grew a previously enriched specialized microbial community on either cellulose or glucose as a sole carbon source and subjected them to one of five different disturbance regimes of varying frequencies ranging from low to high. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we show that the community structure is largely driven by substrate, but disturbance frequency affects community composition and successional dynamics. When grown on cellulose, bacteria in the genera Cellvibrio, Lacunisphaera, and Asticcacaulis are the most abundant microbes. However, Lacunisphaera is only abundant in the lower disturbance frequency treatments, while Asticcacaulis is more abundant in the highest disturbance frequency treatment. When grown on glucose, the most abundant microbes are two Pseudomonas sequence variants and a Cohnella sequence variant that is only abundant in the highest disturbance frequency treatment. Communities grown on cellulose exhibited a greater range of diversity (1.95-7.33 Hill 1 diversity) that peaks at the intermediate disturbance frequency treatment or one disturbance every 3 days. Communities grown on glucose, however, ranged from 1.63 to 5.19 Hill 1 diversity with peak diversity at the greatest disturbance frequency treatment. These results demonstrate that the dynamics of a microbial community can vary depending on substrate and the disturbance frequency and may potentially explain the variety of diversity-disturbance relationships observed in microbial systems.IMPORTANCEA generalizable diversity-disturbance relationship (DDR) of microbial communities remains a contentious topic. Various microbial systems have different DDRs. Rather than finding support or refuting specific DDRs, we investigated the underlying factors that lead to different DDRs. In this study, we measured a cellulose-enriched microbial community's response to a range of disturbance frequencies from high to low, across two different substrates: cellulose and glucose. We demonstrate that the community displays a unimodal DDR when grown on cellulose and a monotonically increasing DDR when grown on glucose. Our findings suggest that the same community can display different DDRs. These results suggest that the range of DDRs we observe across different microbial systems may be due to the nutritional resources microbial communities can access and the interactions between bacteria and their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don Q. Hoang
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lindsay R. Wilson
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrew J. Scheftgen
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Garret Suen
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Cameron R. Currie
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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4
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Hoang DQ, Wilson LR, Scheftgen AJ, Suen G, Currie CR. Disturbance-Diversity Relationships of Microbial Communities Change Based on Growth Substrate. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.25.554838. [PMID: 37662195 PMCID: PMC10473689 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.25.554838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Disturbance events can impact ecological community dynamics. Understanding how communities respond to disturbances, and how those responses can vary, is a challenge in microbial ecology. In this study, we grew a previously enriched specialized microbial community on either cellulose or glucose as a sole carbon source, and subjected them to one of five different disturbance regimes of varying frequencies ranging from low to high. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we show that community structure is largely driven by substrate, but disturbance frequency affects community composition and successional dynamics. When grown on cellulose, bacteria in the genera Cellvibrio, Lacunisphaera, and Asticaccacaulis are the most abundant microbes. However, Lacunisphaera is only abundant in the lower disturbance frequency treatments, while Asticaccaulis is more abundant in the highest disturbance frequency treatment. When grown on glucose, the most abundant microbes are two Pseudomonas sequence variants, and a Cohnella sequence variant that is only abundant in the highest disturbance frequency treatment. Communities grown on cellulose exhibited a greater range of diversity (0.67-1.99 Shannon diversity and 1.38-5.25 Inverse Simpson diversity) that peak at the intermediate disturbance frequency treatment, or 1 disturbance every 3 days. Communities grown on glucose, however, ranged from 0.49-1.43 Shannon diversity and 1.37- 3.52 Inverse Simpson with peak diversity at the greatest disturbance frequency treatment. These results demonstrate that the dynamics of a microbial community can vary depending on substrate and the disturbance frequency, and may potentially explain the variety of diversity-disturbance relationships observed in microbial ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don Q Hoang
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lindsay R Wilson
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Andrew J Scheftgen
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Garret Suen
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Cameron R Currie
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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Eckhoff KD, Scott DA, Manning G, Baer SG. Persistent decadal differences in plant communities assembled under contrasting climate conditions. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2823. [PMID: 36808677 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Plant community assembly outcomes can be contingent upon establishment year (year effects) due to variations in the environment. Stochastic events such as interannual variability in climate, particularly in the first year of community assembly, contribute to unpredictable community outcomes over the short term, but less is known about whether year effects produce transient or persistent states on a decadal timescale. To test for short-term (5-year) and persistent (decadal) effects of establishment year climate on community assembly outcomes, we restored prairie in an agricultural field using the same methods in four different years (2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016) that captured a wide range of initial (planting) year climate conditions. Species composition was measured for 5 years in all four restored prairies and for 9 and 11 years in the two oldest restored prairies established under average precipitation and extreme drought conditions. The composition of the four assembled communities showed large and significant differences in the first year of restoration, followed by dynamic change over time along a similar trajectory due to a temporary flush of annual volunteer species. Sown perennial species eventually came to dominate all communities, but communities remained distinct from each other in year five. Precipitation in June and July of the establishment year explained short-term coarse community metrics (i.e., species richness and grass/forb cover), with wet establishment years resulting in a higher cover of grasses and dry establishment years resulting in a higher cover of forbs in restored communities. Short-term differences in community composition, species richness, and grass/forb cover in restorations established under average precipitation and drought conditions persisted for 9-11 years, with low interannual variability in the composition of each prairie over the long term, indicating persistently different states on a decadal timescale. Thus, year effects resulting from stochastic variation in climate can have decadal effects on community assembly outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn D Eckhoff
- Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Drew A Scott
- USDA - Agricultural Research Service - Northern Great Plains Research, Mandan, North Dakota, USA
| | | | - Sara G Baer
- Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
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Cordeiro CA, Aued AW, Barros F, Bastos AC, Bender M, Mendes TC, Creed JC, Cruz IC, Dias MS, Fernandes LD, Coutinho R, Gonçalves JE, Floeter SR, Mello-Fonseca J, Freire AS, Gherardi DF, Gomes LE, Lacerda F, Martins RL, Longo GO, Mazzuco AC, Menezes R, Muelbert JH, Paranhos R, Quimbayo JP, Valentin JL, Ferreira CE. Long-term monitoring projects of Brazilian marine and coastal ecosystems. PeerJ 2022; 10:e14313. [PMID: 36389402 PMCID: PMC9653053 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Biodiversity assessment is a mandatory task for sustainable and adaptive management for the next decade, and long-term ecological monitoring programs are a cornerstone for understanding changes in ecosystems. The Brazilian Long-Term Ecological Research Program (PELD) is an integrated effort model supported by public funds that finance ecological studies at 34 locations. By interviewing and compiling data from project coordinators, we assessed monitoring efforts, targeting biological groups and scientific production from nine PELD projects encompassing coastal lagoons to mesophotic reefs and oceanic islands. Reef environments and fish groups were the most often studied within the long-term projects. PELD projects covered priority areas for conservation but missed sensitive areas close to large cities, as well as underrepresenting ecosystems on the North and Northeast Brazilian coast. Long-term monitoring projects in marine and coastal environments in Brazil are recent (<5 years), not yet integrated as a network, but scientifically productive with considerable relevance for academic and human resources training. Scientific production increased exponentially with project age, despite interruption and shortage of funding during their history. From our diagnosis, we recommend some actions to fill in observed gaps, such as: enhancing projects' collaboration and integration; focusing on priority regions for new projects; broadening the scope of monitored variables; and, maintenance of funding for existing projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar A.M.M. Cordeiro
- PELD Ilhas Oceânicas Brasileiras, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anaide W. Aued
- PELD Ilhas Oceânicas Brasileiras, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
| | - Francisco Barros
- Laboratório de Ecologia Bentônica, IBIO & CIEnAM & INCT IN-TREE, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Alex C. Bastos
- PELD Abrolhos, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Mariana Bender
- PELD Ilhas Oceânicas Brasileiras, Marine Macroecology and Conservation Lab, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Thiago C. Mendes
- PELD Ilhas Oceânicas Brasileiras, Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Ambientes Recitais, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,PELD Ilhas Oceânicas Brasileiras, Instituto do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Joel C. Creed
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Igor C.S. Cruz
- Laboratório de Oceanografia Biológica, Departamento de Oceanografia, Instituto de Geociências da Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Murilo S. Dias
- PELD Ilhas Oceânicas Brasileiras, Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Lohengrin D.A. Fernandes
- PELD Ressurgência de Cabo Frio, Instituto de Estudos do Mar Almirante Paulo Moreira (IEAPM), Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Coutinho
- PELD Ressurgência de Cabo Frio, Instituto de Estudos do Mar Almirante Paulo Moreira (IEAPM), Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - José E.A. Gonçalves
- PELD Ressurgência de Cabo Frio, Instituto de Estudos do Mar Almirante Paulo Moreira (IEAPM), Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sergio R. Floeter
- PELD Ilhas Oceânicas Brasileiras, Marine Macroecology and Biogeography Lab, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Juliana Mello-Fonseca
- PELD Ilhas Oceânicas Brasileiras, Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Ambientes Recitais, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Andrea S. Freire
- PELD Ilhas Oceânicas Brasileiras, Laboratório de Crustáceos e Plâncton, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Douglas F.M. Gherardi
- PELD Ilhas Oceânicas Brasileiras, Laboratory of Ocean and Atmosphere Studies (LOA), Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz E.O. Gomes
- PELD Habitats Costeiros do Espírito Santo, Grupo de Ecologia Bêntica, Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Fabíola Lacerda
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo L. Martins
- PELD Restingas e Lagoas Costeiras do norte do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Guilherme O. Longo
- PELD Ilhas Oceânicas Brasileiras, Laboratório de Ecologia Marinha, Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Mazzuco
- PELD Habitats Costeiros do Espírito Santo, Grupo de Ecologia Bêntica, Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Rafael Menezes
- PELD Ressurgência de Cabo Frio, Instituto de Estudos do Mar Almirante Paulo Moreira (IEAPM), Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - José H. Muelbert
- PELD Estuário da Lagoa dos Patos e Costa Marinha Adjacente, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Paranhos
- PELD Baía de Guanabara, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Juan P. Quimbayo
- PELD Ilhas Oceânicas Brasileiras, Centro de Biologia Marinha, Universidade de São Paulo, São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jean L. Valentin
- PELD Baía de Guanabara, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos E.L. Ferreira
- PELD Ilhas Oceânicas Brasileiras, Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Ambientes Recitais, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Hudson AR, Peters DPC, Blair JM, Childers DL, Doran PT, Geil K, Gooseff M, Gross KL, Haddad NM, Pastore MA, Rudgers JA, Sala O, Seabloom EW, Shaver G. Cross-Site Comparisons of Dryland Ecosystem Response to Climate Change in the US Long-Term Ecological Research Network. Bioscience 2022; 72:889-907. [PMID: 36034512 PMCID: PMC9405733 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term observations and experiments in diverse drylands reveal how ecosystems and services are responding to climate change. To develop generalities about climate change impacts at dryland sites, we compared broadscale patterns in climate and synthesized primary production responses among the eight terrestrial, nonforested sites of the United States Long-Term Ecological Research (US LTER) Network located in temperate (Southwest and Midwest) and polar (Arctic and Antarctic) regions. All sites experienced warming in recent decades, whereas drought varied regionally with multidecadal phases. Multiple years of wet or dry conditions had larger effects than single years on primary production. Droughts, floods, and wildfires altered resource availability and restructured plant communities, with greater impacts on primary production than warming alone. During severe regional droughts, air pollution from wildfire and dust events peaked. Studies at US LTER drylands over more than 40 years demonstrate reciprocal links and feedbacks among dryland ecosystems, climate-driven disturbance events, and climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy R Hudson
- Agricultural Research Service's Big Data Initiative and SCINet Program for Scientific Computing in Berwyn Heights , Maryland, United States
| | - Debra P C Peters
- Agricultural Research Service's Big Data Initiative and SCINet Program for Scientific Computing in Berwyn Heights , Maryland, United States
- US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service's Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces , New Mexico, United States
- New Mexico State University , Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
| | - John M Blair
- Kansas State University, Manhattan , Kansas, United States
| | | | - Peter T Doran
- Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
| | - Kerrie Geil
- Agricultural Research Service's Big Data Initiative and SCINet Program for Scientific Computing in Berwyn Heights , Maryland, United States
| | | | - Katherine L Gross
- W. K. Kellogg Biological Station, Vermont , United States
- Department of Plant Biology, Vermont , United States
| | - Nick M Haddad
- W. K. Kellogg Biological Station, Vermont , United States
- Department of Plant Biology, Vermont , United States
| | | | | | - Osvaldo Sala
- Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona, United States
- Global Drylands Center and the School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona, United States
| | - Eric W Seabloom
- University of Minnesota , St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
| | - Gaius Shaver
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole , Massachusetts, United States
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Smith-Martin CM, Muscarella R, Ankori-Karlinsky R, Delzon S, Farrar SL, Salva-Sauri M, Thompson J, Zimmerman JK, Uriarte M. Hurricanes increase tropical forest vulnerability to drought. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 235:1005-1017. [PMID: 35608089 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Rapid changes in climate and disturbance regimes, including droughts and hurricanes, are likely to influence tropical forests, but our understanding of the compound effects of disturbances on forest ecosystems is extremely limited. Filling this knowledge gap is necessary to elucidate the future of these ecosystems under a changing climate. We examined the relationship between hurricane response (damage, mortality, and resilience) and four hydraulic traits of 13 dominant woody species in a wet tropical forest subject to periodic hurricanes. Species with high resistance to embolisms (low P50 values) and higher safety margins ( SMP50 ) were more resistant to immediate hurricane mortality and breakage, whereas species with higher hurricane resilience (rapid post-hurricane growth) had high capacitance and P50 values and low SMP50 . During 26 yr of post-hurricane recovery, we found a decrease in community-weighted mean values for traits associated with greater drought resistance (leaf turgor loss point, P50 , SMP50 ) and an increase in capacitance, which has been linked with lower drought resistance. Hurricane damage favors slow-growing, drought-tolerant species, whereas post-hurricane high resource conditions favor acquisitive, fast-growing but drought-vulnerable species, increasing forest productivity at the expense of drought tolerance and leading to higher overall forest vulnerability to drought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris M Smith-Martin
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Robert Muscarella
- Plant Ecology and Evolution, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 752 36, Sweden
| | - Roi Ankori-Karlinsky
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Sylvain Delzon
- INRA, BIOGECO, Université Bordeaux, Pessac, 33615, France
| | - Samuel L Farrar
- Plant Ecology and Evolution, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 752 36, Sweden
| | - Melissa Salva-Sauri
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, 10027, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, 00925, USA
| | - Jill Thompson
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK
| | - Jess K Zimmerman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, 00925, USA
| | - María Uriarte
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, 10027, USA
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9
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Jaramillo VJ, Martínez-Yrízar A, Machado LI. Hurricane-Induced Massive Nutrient Return via Tropical Dry Forest Litterfall: Has Forest Biogeochemistry Resilience Changed? Ecosystems 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-022-00770-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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10
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Rober AR, McCann KS, Turetsky MR, Wyatt KH. Cascading effects of predators on algal size structure. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2022; 58:308-317. [PMID: 35032342 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The presence of edible and inedible prey species in a food web can influence the strength that nutrients (bottom-up) or herbivores (top-down) have on primary production. In boreal peatlands, wetter more nutrient-rich conditions associated with ongoing climate change are expanding consumer access to aquatic habitat and promoting sources of primary production (i.e., algae) that are susceptible to trophic regulation. Here, we used an in situ mesocosm experiment to evaluate the consequences of enhanced nutrient availability and food-web manipulation (herbivore and predator exclusion) on algal assemblage structure in an Alaskan fen. Owing to the potential for herbivores to selectively consume edible algae (small cells) in favor of more resistant forms, we predicted that the proportion of less-edible algae (large cells) would determine the strength of top-down or bottom-up effects. Consistent with these expectations, we observed an increase in algal-cell size in the presence of herbivores (2-tiered food web) that was absent in the presence of a trophic cascade (3-tiered food web), suggesting that predators indirectly prevented morphological changes in the algal assemblage by limiting herbivory. Increases in algal-cell size with herbivory were driven by a greater proportion of filamentous green algae and nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, whose size and morphological characteristics mechanically minimize consumption. While consumer-driven shifts in algal assemblage structure were significant, they did not prevent top-down regulation of biofilm development by herbivores. Our findings show that increasing wet periods in northern peatlands will provide new avenues for trophic regulation of algal production, including directly through consumption and indirectly via a trophic cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison R Rober
- Department of Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, 47306, USA
| | - Kevin S McCann
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, NIG 2WI, Canada
| | - Merritt R Turetsky
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, 80309, USA
| | - Kevin H Wyatt
- Department of Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, 47306, USA
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11
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Gaiser EE, Kominoski JS, McKnight DM, Bahlai CA, Cheng C, Record S, Wollheim WM, Christianson KR, Downs MR, Hawman PA, Holbrook SJ, Kumar A, Mishra DR, Molotch NP, Primack RB, Rassweiler A, Schmitt RJ, Sutter LA. Long-term ecological research and the COVID-19 anthropause: A window to understanding social-ecological disturbance. Ecosphere 2022; 13:e4019. [PMID: 35573027 PMCID: PMC9087370 DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The period of disrupted human activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, coined the "anthropause," altered the nature of interactions between humans and ecosystems. It is uncertain how the anthropause has changed ecosystem states, functions, and feedback to human systems through shifts in ecosystem services. Here, we used an existing disturbance framework to propose new investigation pathways for coordinated studies of distributed, long-term social-ecological research to capture effects of the anthropause. Although it is still too early to comprehensively evaluate effects due to pandemic-related delays in data availability and ecological response lags, we detail three case studies that show how long-term data can be used to document and interpret changes in air and water quality and wildlife populations and behavior coinciding with the anthropause. These early findings may guide interpretations of effects of the anthropause as it interacts with other ongoing environmental changes in the future, particularly highlighting the importance of long-term data in separating disturbance impacts from natural variation and long-term trends. Effects of this global disturbance have local to global effects on ecosystems with feedback to social systems that may be detectable at spatial scales captured by nationally to globally distributed research networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn E. Gaiser
- Institute of Environment and Department of Biological SciencesFlorida International UniversityMiamiFloridaUSA
| | - John S. Kominoski
- Institute of Environment and Department of Biological SciencesFlorida International UniversityMiamiFloridaUSA
| | - Diane M. McKnight
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and Environmental Studies ProgramUniversity of ColoradoBoulderColoradoUSA
| | | | - Chingwen Cheng
- The Design SchoolArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
| | - Sydne Record
- Department of BiologyBryn Mawr CollegeBryn MawrPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Wilfred M. Wollheim
- Department of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNew HampshireUSA
| | | | - Martha R. Downs
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and SynthesisUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Peter A. Hawman
- Department of GeographyUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Sally J. Holbrook
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine BiologyUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Abhishek Kumar
- Department of Environmental ConservationUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Noah P. Molotch
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine ResearchUniversity of ColoradoBoulderColoradoUSA
| | | | - Andrew Rassweiler
- Department of Biological ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Russell J. Schmitt
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine BiologyUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Lori A. Sutter
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
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12
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Kominoski JS, Weaver CA, Armitage AR, Pennings SC. Coastal carbon processing rates increase with mangrove cover following a hurricane in Texas,
USA. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- John S. Kominoski
- Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University Miami Florida USA
| | - Carolyn A. Weaver
- Department of Life Sciences Texas A&M University‐Corpus Christi Corpus Christi Texas USA
- Department of Biology Millersville University Millersville Pennsylvania USA
| | - Anna R. Armitage
- Department of Marine Biology Texas A&M University at Galveston Galveston Texas USA
| | - Steven C. Pennings
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry University of Houston Houston Texas USA
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13
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OUP accepted manuscript. Bioscience 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biac034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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14
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Aoki LR, Brisbin MM, Hounshell AG, Kincaid DW, Larson EI, Sansom BJ, Shogren AJ, Smith RS, Sullivan-Stack J. OUP accepted manuscript. Bioscience 2022; 72:508-520. [PMID: 35677292 PMCID: PMC9169894 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biac020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Extreme events have increased in frequency globally, with a simultaneous surge in scientific interest about their ecological responses, particularly in sensitive freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems. We synthesized observational studies of extreme events in these aquatic ecosystems, finding that many studies do not use consistent definitions of extreme events. Furthermore, many studies do not capture ecological responses across the full spatial scale of the events. In contrast, sampling often extends across longer temporal scales than the event itself, highlighting the usefulness of long-term monitoring. Many ecological studies of extreme events measure biological responses but exclude chemical and physical responses, underscoring the need for integrative and multidisciplinary approaches. To advance extreme event research, we suggest prioritizing pre- and postevent data collection, including leveraging long-term monitoring; making intersite and cross-scale comparisons; adopting novel empirical and statistical approaches; and developing funding streams to support flexible and responsive data collection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alexandria G Hounshell
- Biological Sciences Department, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
| | - Dustin W Kincaid
- Vermont EPSCoR and Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States
| | - Erin I Larson
- Institute of Culture and Environment, Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
| | - Brandon J Sansom
- Department of Geography, State University of New York University, Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
- US Geological Survey's Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, United States
| | - Arial J Shogren
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing Michigan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa Alabama, United States
| | - Rachel S Smith
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
| | - Jenna Sullivan-Stack
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States
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15
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Abstract
In this article marking the 40th anniversary of the US National Science Foundation's Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network, we describe how a long-term ecological research perspective facilitates insights into an ecosystem's response to climate change. At all 28 LTER sites, from the Arctic to Antarctica, air temperature and moisture variability have increased since 1930, with increased disturbance frequency and severity and unprecedented disturbance types. LTER research documents the responses to these changes, including altered primary production, enhanced cycling of organic and inorganic matter, and changes in populations and communities. Although some responses are shared among diverse ecosystems, most are unique, involving region-specific drivers of change, interactions among multiple climate change drivers, and interactions with other human activities. Ecosystem responses to climate change are just beginning to emerge, and as climate change accelerates, long-term ecological research is crucial to understand, mitigate, and adapt to ecosystem responses to climate change.
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16
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Buma B. Disturbance ecology and the problem of
n
= 1: A proposed framework for unifying disturbance ecology studies to address theory across multiple ecological systems. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Buma
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Colorado Denver CO USA
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17
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Crausbay SD, Sofaer HR, Cravens AE, Chaffin BC, Clifford KR, Gross JE, Knapp CN, Lawrence DJ, Magness DR, Miller-Rushing AJ, Schuurman GW, Stevens-Rumann CS. A Science Agenda to Inform Natural Resource Management Decisions in an Era of Ecological Transformation. Bioscience 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Earth is experiencing widespread ecological transformation in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems that is attributable to directional environmental changes, especially intensifying climate change. To better steward ecosystems facing unprecedented and lasting change, a new management paradigm is forming, supported by a decision-oriented framework that presents three distinct management choices: resist, accept, or direct the ecological trajectory. To make these choices strategically, managers seek to understand the nature of the transformation that could occur if change is accepted while identifying opportunities to intervene to resist or direct change. In this article, we seek to inspire a research agenda for transformation science that is focused on ecological and social science and based on five central questions that align with the resist–accept–direct (RAD) framework. Development of transformation science is needed to apply the RAD framework and support natural resource management and conservation on our rapidly changing planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley D Crausbay
- Conservation Science Partners, Fort Collins, Colorado, and is a consortium partner for the US Geological Survey's North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, Boulder, Colorado, United States
| | - Helen R Sofaer
- US Geological Survey Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, United States
| | - Amanda E Cravens
- US Geological Survey's Social and Economic Analysis Branch, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
| | | | - Katherine R Clifford
- US Geological Survey's Social and Economic Analysis Branch, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
| | - John E Gross
- US National Park Service Climate Change Response Program, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
| | | | - David J Lawrence
- US National Park Service Climate Change Response Program, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
| | - Dawn R Magness
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Soldotna, Alaska, United States
| | | | - Gregor W Schuurman
- US National Park Service Climate Change Response Program, in Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
| | - Camille S Stevens-Rumann
- Forest and Rangeland Stewardship Department and assistant director of the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
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18
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Lowman HE, Emery KA, Dugan JE, Miller RJ. Nutritional quality of giant kelp declines due to warming ocean temperatures. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Heili E. Lowman
- Dept of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, Univ. of California Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - Kyle A. Emery
- Marine Science Inst., Univ. of California Santa Barbara CA USA
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19
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Muñoz-Pacheco CB, Villaseñor NR. Avian species richness in cities: A review of the Spanish-language literature from the Southern Cone of South America. Urban Ecosyst 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-021-01180-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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20
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Castorani MCN, Harrer SL, Miller RJ, Reed DC. Disturbance structures canopy and understory productivity along an environmental gradient. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:2192-2206. [PMID: 34339096 PMCID: PMC8518717 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Disturbances often disproportionately impact different vegetation layers in forests and other vertically stratified ecosystems, shaping community structure and ecosystem function. However, disturbance-driven changes may be mediated by environmental conditions that affect habitat quality and species interactions. In a decade-long field experiment, we tested how kelp forest net primary productivity (NPP) responds to repeated canopy loss along a gradient in grazing and substrate suitability. We discovered that habitat quality can mediate the effects of intensified disturbance on canopy and understory NPP. Experimental annual and quarterly disturbances suppressed total macroalgal NPP, but effects were strongest in high-quality habitats that supported dense kelp canopies that were removed by disturbance. Understory macroalgae partly compensated for canopy NPP losses and this effect magnified with increasing habitat quality. Disturbance-driven increases in understory NPP were still rising after 5-10 years of disturbance, demonstrating the value of long-term experimentation for understanding ecosystem responses to changing disturbance regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max C. N. Castorani
- Department of Environmental SciencesUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVAUSA
| | | | - Robert J. Miller
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCAUSA
| | - Daniel C. Reed
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCAUSA
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21
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Lee DY, Kominoski JS, Kline M, Robinson M, Roebling S. Saltwater and nutrient legacies reduce net ecosystem carbon storage despite freshwater restoration: insights from experimental wetlands. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dong Yoon Lee
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, U.S.A
- South Florida Water Management District, Everglades Division West Palm Beach, FL 33411, U.S.A
| | - John S. Kominoski
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, U.S.A
| | - Michael Kline
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, U.S.A
- Everglades Science Center National Audubon Society, Tavernier, FL 33070, U.S.A
- Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science Clemson University, Georgetown, SC 29440, U.S.A
| | - Michelle Robinson
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, U.S.A
- Everglades Science Center National Audubon Society, Tavernier, FL 33070, U.S.A
- Planning and Environmental Resources, Monroe County, Key West, Florida 33040 U.S.A
| | - Suzy Roebling
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, U.S.A
- Everglades Science Center National Audubon Society, Tavernier, FL 33070, U.S.A
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, FL 32399 U.S.A
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22
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Luo M, Reuman DC, Hallett LM, Shoemaker L, Zhao L, Castorani MCN, Dudney JC, Gherardi LA, Rypel AL, Sheppard LW, Walter JA, Wang S. The effects of dispersal on spatial synchrony in metapopulations differ by timescale. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mingyu Luo
- Inst. of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking Univ. Beijing China
| | - Daniel C. Reuman
- Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Kansas Biological Survey, Univ. of Kansas, Higuchi Hall Lawrence KS USA
- Laboratory of Populations, Rockefeller Univ. New York NY USA
| | - Lauren M. Hallett
- Dept of Biology and Environmental Studies Program, Univ. of Oregon Eugene OR USA
| | | | - Lei Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural Univ. Beijing China
| | | | | | - Laureano A. Gherardi
- Global Drylands Center and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State Univ. Tempe AZ USA
| | - Andrew L. Rypel
- Dept of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and Center for Watershed Sciences, Univ. of California Davis CA USA
| | - Lawrence W. Sheppard
- Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Kansas Biological Survey, Univ. of Kansas, Higuchi Hall Lawrence KS USA
- Laboratory of Populations, Rockefeller Univ. New York NY USA
| | - Jonathan A. Walter
- Dept of Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Virginia Charlottesville VA USA
- Ronin Inst. for Independent Scholarship Montclair NJ USA
| | - Shaopeng Wang
- Inst. of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking Univ. Beijing China
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23
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Calhoun KL, Chapman M, Tubbesing C, McInturff A, Gaynor KM, Van Scoyoc A, Wilkinson CE, Parker‐Shames P, Kurz D, Brashares J. Spatial overlap of wildfire and biodiversity in California highlights gap in non‐conifer fire research and management. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kendall L. Calhoun
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley California USA
| | - Melissa Chapman
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley California USA
| | - Carmen Tubbesing
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley California USA
| | - Alex McInturff
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley California USA
| | - Kaitlyn M. Gaynor
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California USA
| | - Amy Van Scoyoc
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley California USA
| | - Christine E. Wilkinson
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley California USA
| | - Phoebe Parker‐Shames
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley California USA
| | - David Kurz
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley California USA
| | - Justin Brashares
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley California USA
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24
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Graham EB, Averill C, Bond-Lamberty B, Knelman JE, Krause S, Peralta AL, Shade A, Smith AP, Cheng SJ, Fanin N, Freund C, Garcia PE, Gibbons SM, Van Goethem MW, Guebila MB, Kemppinen J, Nowicki RJ, Pausas JG, Reed SP, Rocca J, Sengupta A, Sihi D, Simonin M, Słowiński M, Spawn SA, Sutherland I, Tonkin JD, Wisnoski NI, Zipper SC. Toward a Generalizable Framework of Disturbance Ecology Through Crowdsourced Science. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.588940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Disturbances fundamentally alter ecosystem functions, yet predicting their impacts remains a key scientific challenge. While the study of disturbances is ubiquitous across many ecological disciplines, there is no agreed-upon, cross-disciplinary foundation for discussing or quantifying the complexity of disturbances, and no consistent terminology or methodologies exist. This inconsistency presents an increasingly urgent challenge due to accelerating global change and the threat of interacting disturbances that can destabilize ecosystem responses. By harvesting the expertise of an interdisciplinary cohort of contributors spanning 42 institutions across 15 countries, we identified an essential limitation in disturbance ecology: the word ‘disturbance’ is used interchangeably to refer to both the events that cause, and the consequences of, ecological change, despite fundamental distinctions between the two meanings. In response, we developed a generalizable framework of ecosystem disturbances, providing a well-defined lexicon for understanding disturbances across perspectives and scales. The framework results from ideas that resonate across multiple scientific disciplines and provides a baseline standard to compare disturbances across fields. This framework can be supplemented by discipline-specific variables to provide maximum benefit to both inter- and intra-disciplinary research. To support future syntheses and meta-analyses of disturbance research, we also encourage researchers to be explicit in how they define disturbance drivers and impacts, and we recommend minimum reporting standards that are applicable regardless of scale. Finally, we discuss the primary factors we considered when developing a baseline framework and propose four future directions to advance our interdisciplinary understanding of disturbances and their social-ecological impacts: integrating across ecological scales, understanding disturbance interactions, establishing baselines and trajectories, and developing process-based models and ecological forecasting initiatives. Our experience through this process motivates us to encourage the wider scientific community to continue to explore new approaches for leveraging Open Science principles in generating creative and multidisciplinary ideas.
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25
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Francis TB, Abbott KC, Cuddington K, Gellner G, Hastings A, Lai YC, Morozov A, Petrovskii S, Zeeman ML. Management implications of long transients in ecological systems. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:285-294. [PMID: 33462492 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-020-01365-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The underlying biological processes that govern many ecological systems can create very long periods of transient dynamics. It is often difficult or impossible to distinguish this transient behaviour from similar dynamics that would persist indefinitely. In some cases, a shift from the transient to the long-term, stable dynamics may occur in the absence of any exogenous forces. Recognizing the possibility that the state of an ecosystem may be less stable than it appears is crucial to the long-term success of management strategies in systems with long transient periods. Here we demonstrate the importance of considering the potential of transient system behaviour for management actions across a range of ecosystem organizational scales and natural system types. Developing mechanistic models that capture essential system dynamics will be crucial for promoting system resilience and avoiding system collapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa B Francis
- Puget Sound Institute, University of Washington, Tacoma, WA, USA.
| | - Karen C Abbott
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kim Cuddington
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gabriel Gellner
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alan Hastings
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.,Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA
| | - Ying-Cheng Lai
- School of Electrical Computer and Energy Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Andrew Morozov
- School of Mathematics and Actuarial Science, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.,Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergei Petrovskii
- School of Mathematics and Actuarial Science, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Mary Lou Zeeman
- Department of Mathematics, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME, USA
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26
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Ecosystem Recovery from Disturbance is Constrained by N Cycle Openness, Vegetation-Soil N Distribution, Form of N Losses, and the Balance Between Vegetation and Soil-Microbial Processes. Ecosystems 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-020-00542-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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27
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Hogan JA, Feagin RA, Starr G, Ross M, Lin TC, O’connell C, Huff TP, Stauffer BA, Robinson KL, Lara MC, Xue J, Reese BK, Geist SJ, Whitman ER, Douglas S, Congdon VM, Reustle JW, Smith RS, Lagomasino D, Strickland BA, Wilson SS, Proffitt CE, Hogan JD, Branoff BL, Armitage AR, Rush SA, Santos RO, Campos-Cerqueira M, Montagna PA, Erisman B, Walker L, Silver WL, Crowl TA, Wetz M, Hall N, Zou X, Pennings SC, Wang LJ, Chang CT, Leon M, Mcdowell WH, Kominoski JS, Patrick CJ. A Research Framework to Integrate Cross-Ecosystem Responses to Tropical Cyclones. Bioscience 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaa034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Tropical cyclones play an increasingly important role in shaping ecosystems. Understanding and generalizing their responses is challenging because of meteorological variability among storms and its interaction with ecosystems. We present a research framework designed to compare tropical cyclone effects within and across ecosystems that: a) uses a disaggregating approach that measures the responses of individual ecosystem components, b) links the response of ecosystem components at fine temporal scales to meteorology and antecedent conditions, and c) examines responses of ecosystem using a resistance–resilience perspective by quantifying the magnitude of change and recovery time. We demonstrate the utility of the framework using three examples of ecosystem response: gross primary productivity, stream biogeochemical export, and organismal abundances. Finally, we present the case for a network of sentinel sites with consistent monitoring to measure and compare ecosystem responses to cyclones across the United States, which could help improve coastal ecosystem resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Aaron Hogan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
| | - Rusty A Feagin
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Gregory Starr
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
| | - Michael Ross
- Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
| | - Teng-Chiu Lin
- Department of Life Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Christine O’connell
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkley, Berkley, California
| | - Thomas P Huff
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Beth A Stauffer
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana
| | - Kelly L Robinson
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana
| | - Maria Chapela Lara
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire
| | - Jianhong Xue
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas, Austin, Port Aransas, Texas
| | - Brandi Kiel Reese
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
| | - Simon J Geist
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
| | - Elizabeth R Whitman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
| | - Sarah Douglas
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas, Austin, Port Aransas, Texas
| | - Victoria M Congdon
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas, Austin, Port Aransas, Texas
| | - Joseph W Reustle
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
| | - Rachel S Smith
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - David Lagomasino
- Department of Coastal Studies, East Carolina University, Wanchese, North Carolina, Maryland
| | - Bradley A Strickland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
| | - Sara S Wilson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
| | - C Edward Proffitt
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
| | - J Derek Hogan
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
| | - Benjamin L Branoff
- National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Anna R Armitage
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, Galveston, Galveston, Texas
| | - Scott A Rush
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi
| | - Rolando O Santos
- Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
| | | | - Paul A Montagna
- Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
| | - Brad Erisman
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas, Austin, Port Aransas, Texas
| | - Lily Walker
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
| | - Whendee L Silver
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkley, Berkley, California
| | - Todd A Crowl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
- Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
| | - Michael Wetz
- Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
| | - Nathan Hall
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Morehead, North Carolina
| | - Xiaoming Zou
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Puerto Rico–Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Steven C Pennings
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Lih-Jih Wang
- School of Forest Resources, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Te Chang
- Department of Life Sciences Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Miguel Leon
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire
| | - William H Mcdowell
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire
| | - John S Kominoski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
- Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
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Kominoski JS, Gaiser EE, Castañeda-Moya E, Davis SE, Dessu SB, Julian P, Lee DY, Marazzi L, Rivera-Monroy VH, Sola A, Stingl U, Stumpf S, Surratt D, Travieso R, Troxler TG. Disturbance legacies increase and synchronize nutrient concentrations and bacterial productivity in coastal ecosystems. Ecology 2020; 101:e02988. [PMID: 31958144 PMCID: PMC7317527 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Long‐term ecological research can resolve effects of disturbance on ecosystem dynamics by capturing the scale of disturbance and interactions with environmental changes. To quantify how disturbances interact with long‐term directional changes (sea‐level rise, freshwater restoration), we studied 17 yr of monthly dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total nitrogen (TN), and phosphorus (TP) concentrations and bacterioplankton productivity across freshwater‐to‐marine estuary gradients exposed to multiple disturbance events (e.g., droughts, fire, hurricanes, and low‐temperature anomalies) and long‐term increases in water levels. By studying two neighboring drainages that differ in hydrologic connectivity, we additionally tested how disturbance legacies are shaped by hydrologic connectivity. We predicted that disturbance events would interact with long‐term increases in water levels in freshwater and marine ecosystems to increase spatiotemporal similarity (i.e., synchrony) of organic matter, nutrients, and microbial activities. Wetlands along the larger, deeper, and tidally influenced Shark River Slough (SRS) drainage had higher and more variable DOC, TN, and TP concentrations than wetlands along the smaller, shallower, tidally restricted Taylor River Slough/Panhandle (TS/Ph) drainage. Along SRS, DOC concentrations declined with proximity to coast, and increased in magnitude and variability following drought and flooding in 2015 and a hurricane in 2017. Along TS/Ph, DOC concentrations varied by site (higher in marine than freshwater wetlands) but not year. In both drainages, increases in TN from upstream freshwater marshes occurred following fire in 2008 and droughts in 2010 and 2015, whereas downstream increases in TP occurred with coastal storm surge from hurricanes in 2005 and 2017. Decreases in DOC:TN and DOC:TP were explained by increased TN and TP. Increases in bacterioplankton productivity occurred throughout both drainages following low‐temperature events (2010 and 2011) and a hurricane (2017). Long‐term TN and TP concentrations and bacterioplankton productivity were correlated (r > 0.5) across a range of sampling distances (1–50 km), indicating spatiotemporal synchrony. DOC concentrations were not synchronized across space or time. Our study advances disturbance ecology theory by illustrating how disturbance events interact with long‐term environmental changes and hydrologic connectivity to determine the magnitude and extent of disturbance legacies. Understanding disturbance legacies will enhance prediction and enable more effective management of rapidly changing ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- John S Kominoski
- Department of Biological Sciences & Institute of Environment/Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199, USA
| | - Evelyn E Gaiser
- Department of Biological Sciences & Institute of Environment/Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199, USA
| | - Edward Castañeda-Moya
- Department of Biological Sciences & Institute of Environment/Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199, USA
| | | | - Shimelis B Dessu
- Department of Earth and Environment & Institute of Environment/Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199, USA
| | - Paul Julian
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Dong Yoon Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences & Institute of Environment/Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199, USA
| | - Luca Marazzi
- Department of Biological Sciences & Institute of Environment/Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199, USA
| | - Victor H Rivera-Monroy
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, College of the Coast and the Environment, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Andres Sola
- Department of Biological Sciences & Institute of Environment/Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199, USA
| | - Ulrich Stingl
- Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Davie, Florida, 33314, USA
| | - Sandro Stumpf
- Department of Biological Sciences & Institute of Environment/Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199, USA
| | | | - Rafael Travieso
- Department of Biological Sciences & Institute of Environment/Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199, USA
| | - Tiffany G Troxler
- Department of Biological Sciences & Institute of Environment/Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199, USA
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