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Long-distance facilitation of coastal ecosystem structure and resilience
Wang, B.; Zhang, K.; Liu, Q.-X.; Gao, Q.; van de Koppel, J.; Teng, S.N.; Miao, X.; Liu, M.; Bertness, M.D.; Xu, C. (2022). Long-distance facilitation of coastal ecosystem structure and resilience. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 119(28): e2123274119. https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2123274119
In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. The Academy: Washington, D.C.. ISSN 0027-8424; e-ISSN 1091-6490, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Author keywords
    biological invasion; biotic interaction; long-distance interaction; resilience; coastal saltmarsh

Authors  Top 
  • Wang, B.
  • Zhang, K.
  • Liu, Q.-X.
  • Gao, Q.
  • van de Koppel, J., more
  • Teng, S.N.
  • Miao, X.
  • Liu, M.
  • Bertness, M.D.
  • Xu, C.

Abstract

    Biotic interactions that hierarchically organize ecosystems by driving ecological and evolutionary processes across spatial scales are ubiquitous in our biosphere. Biotic interactions have been extensively studied at local and global scales, but how long-distance, cross-ecosystem interactions at intermediate landscape scales influence the structure, function, and resilience of ecological systems remains poorly understood. We used remote sensing, modeling, and field data to test the hypothesis that the long-distance impact of an invasive species dramatically affects one of the largest tidal flat ecosystems in East Asia. We found that the invasion of exotic cordgrass Spartina alterniflora can produce long-distance effects on native species up to 10 km away, driving decadal coastal ecosystem transitions. The invasive cordgrass at low elevations facilitated the expansion of the native reed Phragmites australis at high elevations, leading to the massive loss and reduced resilience of the iconic Suaeda salsa “Red Beach” marshes at intermediate elevations, largely as a consequence of reduced soil salinity across the landscape. Our results illustrate the complex role that long-distance interactions can play in shaping landscape structure and ecosystem resilience and in bridging the gap between local and global biotic interactions.


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