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Chemotactic Response of Marine Micro-Organisms to Micro-Scale Nutrient Layers
Published on: May 28, 2007
Spatial self-organization on intertidal mudflats through biophysical stress divergence
Ellen J Weerman1, Johan van de Koppel, Maarten B Eppinga
1Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), PO Box 40, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands. e.weerman@nioo.knaw.nl
The American Naturalist
|May 26, 2010
Summary
Spatial patterns on intertidal flats emerge from the interaction of biological and geomorphological processes. Diatom growth and sediment dynamics create self-organized hummocks and hollows, shaping the landscape.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Geomorphology
- Biogeomorphology
Background:
- Intertidal flats exhibit complex spatial patterns.
- The interplay between biological activity and geological processes drives landscape formation.
- Diatoms are known to influence sediment stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms behind spatial self-organization on intertidal flats.
- To understand the role of biological-geomorphological interactions in pattern formation.
- To model the emergence of diatom-driven spatial patterns.
Main Methods:
- Autocorrelation analysis of aerial photographs to identify spatial patterns.
- Characterization of hummocks and hollows based on diatom content and erosion thresholds.
- Development of a spatially explicit mathematical model simulating ecological and geomorphological processes.
Main Results:
- Diatoms form regularly spaced patterns of hummocks and hollows.
- Hummocks have higher diatom content and sediment erosion resistance than hollows.
- The mathematical model confirms that scale-dependent interactions explain observed patterns.
Conclusions:
- The interaction between diatom growth and sedimentary processes is a key driver of spatial patterning.
- Self-organization at the landscape level is induced by biological and sedimentary process interplay.
- Spatially patterned areas show increased sediment accretion and diatom biomass.
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