Density-Dependent and Species-Specific Effects on Self-Organization Modulate the Resistance of Mussel Bed Ecosystems to Hydrodynamic Stress
Abstract
Self-organized, regular spatial patterns emerging from local interactions among individuals enhance the ability of ecosystems to respond to environmental disturbances. Mussels self-organize to form large, regularly patterned biogenic structures that modify the biotic and abiotic environment and provide numerous ecosystem functions and services. We used two mussel species that form monospecific and mixed beds to investigate how species-specific behavior affects self-organization and resistance to wave stress. Perna perna has strong attachment but low motility, while Mytilus galloprovincialis shows the reverse. At low density, the less motile P. perna has limited spatial self-organization compared with M. galloprovincialis, while when coexisting, the two species formed random spatial patterns. At high density, the two species self-organized in similar ways, while when coexisting, patterns were less strong. Spatial pattern formations significantly shaped resistance to hydrodynamic stress. At low density, P. perna beds with strong attachment and M. galloprovincialis beds with strong spatial organization showed higher retention rates than mixed beds. At high density, the presence of strongly attached P. perna significantly increased retention in mixed and P. perna beds compared with M. galloprovincialis beds. Our study emphasizes the importance of the interplay of species-specific behaviors to spatial self-organization and stress tolerance in natural communities.
Ukuxinana okuxhomekekileyo kunye nohlobo olukhethekileyo kunomthelela oyintoni ekuzicwangciseni nasekuxhathiseni kuguquguquko lwamanzi kwiibhedi zeembaza
Ukuzicwangcisa, iiphateni zokuzinza ezivela kwintsebenziswano phakathi kweziqu zikhulisa isakhono sezinto eziphilayo ukuba zikwazi ukumelana neziphazamiso zendalo. Iimbaza zizehlela ngokwazo khon’ ukuze zakhe iiphateni ezinkulu ezincedisana nendalo ephilayo nengaphiliyo kwaye zandise ukubonelela ngeenkonzo nemisebenzi yendalo. Sisebenzise indidi ezimbini zeembaza ezakha iibhedi ezikhethekileyo nezixubenyo khon’ ukuze siphengulule ukuba injani impatho yodidi olukhethekileyo kwaye izonakalisa njani ekuzicwangciseni nasekuxhathiseni kuxinizelelo lwamaza. IPerna perna inoncamathiselo olumandla kodwa inentshukumo ephantsi ngeli xesha yona iMytilus galloprovincialis ibonakalisa ukuphikisana noku. Xa zimbalwa, iiP. perna enentshukumo ephantsi inocwangciso-ndawo olunomlinganiselo xa sithelekisa neM. gallopronvincialis ngeli xesha ziphila ndawonye, zombini ezi ndidi zakha iiphateni zingabhungisanga kananjalo. Xa ukuxinana kwazo kuphezulu, ezi ndidi zimbini zizehlela ngokwazo ngeendlela ezifanayo, noxa nje xa ziphila ndawonye, iiphateni zona ziyancipha. Ulwakhiwo lomzila-ndawo kubumba ikakhulu ukuxhathisa kuxinizelelo loguquguqulo-manzi. Xa ukuxinana kwazo kuphantsi, iibhedi zeP. perna ezinonamathelo olomeleleyo kunye neebhedi zeM. galloprovincialis ezinohlelo-ndawo olumandla zibonakalise izinga eliphezulu lokugcinwa kuneebhedi ezixutyiweyo. Xa ukuxinana kuphezulu, ubukho beeP. perna ezinonamathelo olucacileyo bandise ikakhulu ukugcinwa kwezi zixutyiweyo kunye neebhedi zeP. perna xa zithelekiswa neebhedi zeM. galloprovincialis. Uphando lwethu lugxininisa ukubaluleka kweembaza ezihlobo olukhethekileyo kwanendlela eziziphatha ngayo phantsi kweemeko zokuzicwangcisa naphantsi koxinezelelo kweemeko zendalo eziphila kuzo.
