TY - JOUR
T1 - Alternative mechanisms alter the emergent properties of self-organization in mussel beds
AU - Liu, Q.X.
AU - Weerman, E.J.
AU - Herman, P.M.J.
AU - Olff, H.
AU - Van de Koppel, J.
N1 - Reporting year: 2012
Metis note: 5232; CEME; RE
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Theoretical models predict that spatial self-organization can have important, unexpected implications by
affecting the functioning of ecosystems in terms of resilience and productivity. Whether and how these
emergent effects depend on specific formulations of the underlying mechanisms are questions that are
often ignored. Here, we compare two alternative models of regular spatial pattern formation in mussel
beds that have different mechanistic descriptions of the facilitative interactions between mussels. The
first mechanism involves a reduced mussel loss rate at high density owing to mutual protection between
the mussels, which is the basis of prior studies on the pattern formation in mussels. The second mechanism
assumes, based on novel experimental evidence, that mussels feed more efficiently on top of
mussel-generated hummocks. Model simulations point out that the second mechanism produces very
similar types of spatial patterns in mussel beds. Yet the mechanisms predict a strikingly contrasting
effect of these spatial patterns on ecosystem functioning, in terms of productivity and resilience. In the
first model, where high mussel densities reduce mussel loss rates, patterns are predicted to strongly
increase productivity and decrease the recovery time of the bed following a disturbance. When pattern
formation is generated by increased feeding efficiency on hummocks, only minor emergent effects of pattern
formation on ecosystem functioning are predicted. Our results provide a warning against predictions
of the implications and emergent properties of spatial self-organization, when the mechanisms that
underlie self-organization are incompletely understood and not based on the experimental study.
AB - Theoretical models predict that spatial self-organization can have important, unexpected implications by
affecting the functioning of ecosystems in terms of resilience and productivity. Whether and how these
emergent effects depend on specific formulations of the underlying mechanisms are questions that are
often ignored. Here, we compare two alternative models of regular spatial pattern formation in mussel
beds that have different mechanistic descriptions of the facilitative interactions between mussels. The
first mechanism involves a reduced mussel loss rate at high density owing to mutual protection between
the mussels, which is the basis of prior studies on the pattern formation in mussels. The second mechanism
assumes, based on novel experimental evidence, that mussels feed more efficiently on top of
mussel-generated hummocks. Model simulations point out that the second mechanism produces very
similar types of spatial patterns in mussel beds. Yet the mechanisms predict a strikingly contrasting
effect of these spatial patterns on ecosystem functioning, in terms of productivity and resilience. In the
first model, where high mussel densities reduce mussel loss rates, patterns are predicted to strongly
increase productivity and decrease the recovery time of the bed following a disturbance. When pattern
formation is generated by increased feeding efficiency on hummocks, only minor emergent effects of pattern
formation on ecosystem functioning are predicted. Our results provide a warning against predictions
of the implications and emergent properties of spatial self-organization, when the mechanisms that
underlie self-organization are incompletely understood and not based on the experimental study.
KW - NIOO
U2 - 10.1098/rspb.2012.0157
DO - 10.1098/rspb.2012.0157
M3 - Article
SN - 0962-8452
VL - 279
SP - 2744
EP - 2753
JO - Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences
JF - Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences
IS - 1739
ER -