Ocean acidification affects competition for space: projections of community structure using cellular automata

Sophie J McCoy; Stefano Allesina; Catherine A Pfister

doi:10.1098/rspb.2015.2561

Ocean acidification affects competition for space: projections of community structure using cellular automata

Proc Biol Sci. 2016 Mar 16;283(1826):20152561. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2015.2561.

Authors

Sophie J McCoy¹, Stefano Allesina², Catherine A Pfister²

Affiliations

¹ Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK mccoy@bio.fsu.edu.
² Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, 1101 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

Abstract

Historical ecological datasets from a coastal marine community of crustose coralline algae (CCA) enabled the documentation of ecological changes in this community over 30 years in the Northeast Pacific. Data on competitive interactions obtained from field surveys showed concordance between the 1980s and 2013, yet also revealed a reduction in how strongly species interact. Here, we extend these empirical findings with a cellular automaton model to forecast ecological dynamics. Our model suggests the emergence of a new dominant competitor in a global change scenario, with a reduced role of herbivory pressure, or trophic control, in regulating competition among CCA. Ocean acidification, due to its energetic demands, may now instead play this role in mediating competitive interactions and thereby promote species diversity within this guild.

Keywords: cellular automata; competitive networks; crustose coralline algae; global change; ocean acidification; trophic control.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Biodiversity*
Food Chain
Models, Biological
Rhodophyta / physiology*
Seawater / chemistry*
Seaweed / physiology*
Washington