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Ecological Disturbance02:26

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Automatic Image Processing to Determine the Community Size Structure of Riverine Macroinvertebrates
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Published on: January 13, 2023

Patch size-dependent community recovery after massive disturbance.

Christine Angelini1, Brian R Silliman

  • 1Department of Biology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118525, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA. choldredge@ufl.edu

Ecology
|April 11, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ecosystems can recover from die-offs if large patches of foundation plants like Spartina alterniflora persist. Large patches facilitate recovery by overcoming competition, especially when water is available.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Coastal Ecosystems
  • Plant Community Dynamics

Background:

  • Massive disturbances are common globally, impacting ecosystem recovery.
  • Community recovery often relies on remnant patches, not open gaps.
  • Spartina alterniflora die-offs in US salt marshes present a case for studying recovery dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Evaluate recolonization dynamics in southern US salt marshes after Spartina alterniflora die-off.
  • Investigate factors influencing Spartina recolonization at small and large patch scales.
  • Determine the role of biotic (grazing, neighbors) and abiotic (water) factors in recovery.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted field experiments in Georgia (USA) salt marshes with varying remnant patch sizes (<1m² and >20m²).
  • Manipulated biotic factors: grazer presence and plant neighbor presence.
  • Manipulated abiotic factors: water availability (freshwater addition) and salinity.
  • Monitored Spartina expansion, growth, and border advancement over two years (2009-2010).

Main Results:

  • In small patches, removing grazers and neighbors significantly increased Spartina expansion and growth; water addition had minimal effect.
  • In large patches, borders advanced significantly regardless of grazer or neighbor removal in 2009.
  • In 2010 (drought year), large patch borders advanced less but more where neighbors were removed or freshwater added.
  • Water availability mediated large-patch expansion during wet periods and intensified competition during drought.

Conclusions:

  • Ecosystems can recover from massive disturbances if remnant patches of foundation species are sufficiently large.
  • Large patches facilitate Spartina recovery by overcoming biotic inhibition.
  • Water availability is crucial, fueling expansion in wet periods and competition during drought.
  • Remnant patch size is a critical factor for successful ecosystem resilience after disturbance.