title: Pattern formation at multiple spatial scales drives the resilience of mussel bed ecosystems.
abstract: Self-organized complexity at multiple spatial scales is a distinctive characteristic of biological systems. Yet, little is known about how different self-organizing processes operating at different spatial scales interact to determine ecosystem functioning. Here we show that the interplay between self-organizing processes at individual and ecosystem level is a key determinant of the functioning and resilience of mussel beds. In mussel beds, self-organization generates spatial patterns at two characteristic spatial scales: small-scale net-shaped patterns due to behavioural aggregation of individuals, and large-scale banded patterns due to the interplay of between-mussel facilitation and resource depletion. Model analysis reveals that the interaction between these behavioural and ecosystem-level mechanisms increases mussel bed resilience, enables persistence under deteriorating conditions and makes them less prone to catastrophic collapse. Our analysis highlights that interactions between different forms of self-organization at multiple spatial scales may enhance the intrinsic ability of ecosystems to withstand both natural and human-induced disturbances.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Spatial Ecology, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands [2] Department of Aquatic Microbiology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94248, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Quan-Xing
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Spatial Ecology, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter M J
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, PO Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands [2] Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wolf M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Mooij
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Microbiology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94248, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huisman
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheffer
authors.affiliation: Community and Conservation Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Olff
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Spatial Ecology, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands [2] Community and Conservation Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van de Koppel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000502:physiology*; D003196:Computer Graphics; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D015233:Models, Statistical; D062206:Spatial Analysis