Journal
SCIENCE
Volume 322, Issue 5902, Pages 739-742Publisher
AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1126/science.1163952
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Funding
- Schure-Beijerinck-Popping
- Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences
- Vidi
- Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research/Earth and Life Sciences (NWO-ALW)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council [D18866]
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council [D18866] Funding Source: researchfish
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Spatial self- organization is the main theoretical explanation for the global occurrence of regular or otherwise coherent spatial patterns in ecosystems. Using mussel beds as a model ecosystem, we provide an experimental demonstration of spatial self- organization. Under homogeneous laboratory conditions, mussels developed regular patterns, similar to those in the field. An individual- based model derived from our experiments showed that interactions between individuals explained the observed patterns. Furthermore, a field study showed that pattern formation affected ecosystem- level processes in terms of improved growth and resistance to wave action. Our results imply that spatial self- organization is an important determinant of the structure and functioning of ecosystems, and it needs to be considered in their conservation.
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