EEB Thursday Seminar: Integrating consumer mediated nutrient dynamics into models of coastal ecosystem function

A fundamental challenge in ecology is to understand how emergent properties arise in ecosystems. I outline a research program that applies a hierarchical approach to address this challenge in tropical coastal marine ecosystems. Specifically, I show how the study of consumer-mediated nutrient dynamics integrates behavioral, community, and ecosystem ecology in a framework that can be applied to identify underlying mechanisms of ecosystem function at multiple spatial scales. First, I show how artificial reefs enhance local ecosystem processes and initiate biogeochemical hotspots at the patch scale. I then explain a series of studies that identify drivers by which fish communities regulate nutrient supply and storage at the ecosystem scale. I demonstrate the relevance of these processes for the structure and function of habitats (e.g., coral reefs) that in turn are critical for supporting fish communities. Finally, I discuss on-going and future research efforts to understand the role of consumer behavior in spatially coupling energy and nutrient dynamics at the landscape scale. Importantly, my research program is structured such that it bridges science with conservation efforts. Throughout, I demonstrate how a theory-driven approach to ecology can be directly applied to help solve real-world conservation problems in highly impaired coastal tropical ecosystems.

Watch YouTube video: https://youtu.be/2-aezXOK8Aw