Experimental Evidence for Spatial Self-Organization and Its Emergent Effects in Mussel Bed Ecosystems
Johan van de Koppel,1*
Joanna C. Gascoigne,2
Guy Theraulaz,3
Max Rietkerk,4
Wolf M. Mooij,5
Peter M. J. Herman1
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.
2 School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales Bangor, Askew Street, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK.
3 Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale, CNRS UMR 5169, Universite Paul Sabatier 118, Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 04, France.
4 Department of Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute, Utrecht University, Post Office Box 80115, 3508 TC Utrecht, Netherlands.
5 Aquatic Food Webs Department, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Rijksstraatweg 6, 3631 AC, Nieuwersluis, Netherlands.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: J.vandeKoppel{at}nioo.knaw.nl
