Exploring biogeochemical and ecological redundancy in phytoplankton communities in the global ocean
Name
gcb.15493.pdf
Description
Published version
Size
1.99 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
e5ba73a8b16d1a8fad8a60ff9c1cfe32
Author(s)
Dutkiewicz, Stephanie
Boyd, Philip W
Riebesell, Ulf
Date Issued
2021
Journal
Global Change Biology
Publisher
Wiley
Citation
Dutkiewicz, Stephanie, Boyd, Philip W and Riebesell, Ulf. 2021. "Exploring biogeochemical and ecological redundancy in phytoplankton communities in the global ocean." Global Change Biology, 27 (6).
Version
Final published version
Abstract
© 2020 The Authors. Global Change Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Climate-change-induced alterations of oceanic conditions will lead to the ecological niches of some marine phytoplankton species disappearing, at least regionally. How will such losses affect the ecosystem and the coupled biogeochemical cycles? Here, we couch this question in terms of ecological redundancy (will other species be able to fill the ecological roles of the extinct species) and biogeochemical redundancy (can other species replace their biogeochemical roles). Prior laboratory and field studies point to a spectrum in the degree of redundancy. We use a global three-dimensional computer model with diverse planktonic communities to explore these questions further. The model includes 35 phytoplankton types that differ in size, biogeochemical function and trophic strategy. We run two series of experiments in which single phytoplankton types are either partially or fully eliminated. The niches of the targeted types were not completely reoccupied, often with a reduction in the transfer of matter from autotrophs to heterotrophs. Primary production was often decreased, but sometimes increased due to reduction in grazing pressure. Complex trophic interactions (such as a decrease in the stocks of a predator's grazer) led to unexpected reshuffling of the community structure. Alterations in resource utilization may cause impacts beyond the regions where the type went extinct. Our results suggest a lack of redundancy, especially in the ‘knock on’ effects on higher trophic levels. Redundancy appeared lowest for types on the edges of trait space (e.g. smallest) or with unique competitive strategies. Though highly idealized, our modelling findings suggest that the results from laboratory or field studies often do not adequately capture the ramifications of functional redundancy. The modelled, often counterintuitive, responses—via complex food web interactions and bottom-up versus top-down controls—indicate that changes in planktonic community will be key determinants of future ocean global change ecology and biogeochemistry.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Center for Global Change Science
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License 4.0
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1111/GCB.15493
