ENVIRONMENTAL FLUCTUATIONS INDUCE SCALE-DEPENDENT COMPENSATION AND INCREASE STABILITY IN PLANKTON ECOSYSTEMS

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Zoology

Background:

• Temporal stability of ecosystems depends on population variability, interactions, and environmental fluctuations.
• Environmental fluctuations can destabilize ecosystems if population dynamics are synchronized.
• Understanding population synchrony is crucial for predicting ecosystem stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how zooplankton population synchrony affects temporal stability of community and ecosystem properties.
• To determine the role of environmental fluctuations and timescales in influencing population synchrony and stability.
• To test the theory that compensatory dynamics can stabilize ecological communities.

Main Methods:

• Utilized seminatural experimental ponds to study zooplankton communities.
• Manipulated environmental conditions to induce fluctuations and assess population dynamics.
• Analyzed temporal stability of zooplankton density, abundance, and ecosystem productivity in relation to synchrony.

Main Results:

• Reduced synchrony among zooplankton taxa increased temporal stability of zooplankton density, abundance, and ecosystem productivity.
• Asynchrony was observed at longer timescales (∼80-day periods) and under recurring environmental perturbations.
• Synchronous dynamics dominated at shorter timescales (∼10-day periods) and in constant environments.

Conclusions:

• Compensatory dynamics among zooplankton taxa can stabilize communities and ecosystem properties.
• Environmental fluctuations can promote long-period asynchrony, enhancing ecosystem stability.
• Ecosystem stability is influenced by the interplay between environmental variability, population synchrony, and timescales.