Losers in the 'Rock-Paper-Scissors' game: the role of non-hierarchical competition and chaos as biodiversity sustaining agents in aquatic systems.

摘要: Abstract Processes occurring within small areas (patch-scale) that influence species richness and spatial heterogeneity of larger (landscape-scale) have long been an interest ecologists. This research focused on the role patch-scale deterministic chaos arising in phytoplankton assemblages characteristic “Rock-Paper-Scissors” population dynamics (i.e., competitively non-hierarchical). We employed a simple 2-patch model configuration with lateral mixing through-flow, tested robustness at scale landscape heterogeneity. Three different were used dimensionless box exhibited chaotic behavior. Our results showed when dimension was added to configuration, all shared between patches no invading populations), chaos-induced quickly reduced onset mixing. While each patch comprised exactly same species, they differed their proportional densities due differing stages succession incidence alternative assemblage structures. Even very low rates (0.001 d−1), which produced passive migration (0.1% total biomass per day), high decreased by ∼80%. Interestingly, this sensitivity not for three tested. Declines associated greater dissimilar (based area occupied resource-tradeoff space defined R* model). The underlying mechanisms may involve degree nutrient are altered arrival immigrants. findings suggest partially well-mixed aquatic systems, roles non-hierarchical competition as factors maintaining be limited. However, systems experience periods mixing, or even disconnection, might indeed contribute significantly biodiversity.