Co-authors: @tiannapeller.bsky.social , Isabelle Gounand, @florianaltermatt.bsky.social

At: @eawag.bsky.social – @uzh-ch.bsky.social – fblucph.bsky.social
– @utoronto.ca – @ieesparis.bsky.social – University of Copenhagen

This suggests that understanding landscape-scale ecosystem function requires considering not just whether ecosystems are connected, but also their relative sizes and trophic status.

Using a protist microcosm experiment, we found that ecosystem size can completely reverse the effect of resource flows on meta-ecosystem biomass. When autotrophic patches dominated, flows increased total biomass. When heterotrophic patches dominated, flows decreased it.

3/3 #biodiversity #metaecosystem #ecology #disturbance

With: Tianna Peller (@tiannapeller.bsky.social), Isabelle Gounand, Silvana Käser, Florian Altermatt (@florianaltermatt.bsky.social)

At: University of Zurich, Eawag (@eawag.bsky.social)

2/3 Ecological theory 📔 has long recognised that connectivity, ecosystem size, and disturbance independently affect ecosystem function.

But.. how do they interact? ❓

Our microcosm experiment 🔬 with two-patch autotrophic-heterotrophic meta-ecosystems reveals such an interaction.

2/2 Ecological theory 📔 has long recognised that connectivity, ecosystem size, and disturbance independently affect ecosystem function.

But.. how do they interact? ❓

Our microcosm experiment 🔬 with two-patch autotrophic-heterotrophic meta-ecosystems reveals such an interaction.

3/3 Now out as a preprint at the following link: lnkd.in/dA_5DHV8

By:
Myself, Tianna Peller @tiannapeller.bsky.social, Isabelle Gounand, and Florian Altermatt @florianaltermatt.bsky.social.

Eawag @eawag.bsky.social | University of Zurich

#Ecology #Biodiversity #Ecosystems

3/3 Now out as a preprint at the following link: www.authorea.com/doi/full/10....

By:
Myself, Tianna Peller (@tiannapeller.bsky.social), Isabelle Gounand, and Florian Altermatt (@florianaltermatt.bsky.social)

Eawag (@eawag.bsky.social) | University of Zurich

#Ecology #Biodiversity #Ecosystems

2/3 Here, using a microcosm experiment, we show that the relative size of an autotrophic and heterotrophic ecosystem can cause their linkage to reverse from positive to negative effects on ecosystem function.

1/3 We know that autotrophic and heterotrophic ecosystems are connected through resource flows, which can have positive or negative effects on their function. However, what we know about this topic doesn't consider the fact that ecosystems have different sizes.

Now out in Ecology and Evolution at the following link: lnkd.in/d3YH_Rzh

Research by:
Myself, Tianna Peller, Isabelle Gounand, and @florianaltermatt.bsky.social .

@eawag.bsky.social | @lifesciencezurich.bsky.social

#Ecology #Biodiversity #Ecosystem

When studying how ecosystem size affects diversity and function, we often assume effects on species dispersal. But also non-living resources move between ecosystems! Here, a microcosm experiment shows ecosystem size can influence diversity and function through its effects on resource flows.