Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1002/ece3.9638
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Differences in initial abundances reveal divergent dynamic structures in Gause's predator–prey experiments
Author Mühlbauer, L.K.; Harpole, W.S. ORCID logo ; Clark, A.T.
Source Titel Ecology and Evolution
Year 2022
Department PHYDIV
Volume 12
Issue 12
Page From e9638
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Data and Software links https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6926
Supplements https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.1002%2Fece3.9638&file=ece39638-sup-0001-AppendixS1.docx
Keywords chaos; empirical dynamic modeling; initial abundance; microcosm experiments; nonlinear dynamics; time series analysis
Abstract Improved understanding of complex dynamics has revealed insights across many facets of ecology, and has enabled improved forecasts and management of future ecosystem states. However, an enduring challenge in forecasting complex dynamics remains the differentiation between complexity and stochasticity, that is, to determine whether declines in predictability are caused by stochasticity, nonlinearity, or chaos. Here, we show how to quantify the relative contributions of these factors to prediction error using Georgii Gause's iconic predator–prey microcosm experiments, which, critically, include experimental replicates that differ from one another only in initial abundances. We show that these differences in initial abundances interact with stochasticity, nonlinearity, and chaos in unique ways, allowing us to identify the impacts of these factors on prediction error. Our results suggest that jointly analyzing replicate time series across multiple, distinct starting points may be necessary for understanding and predicting the wide range of potential dynamic types in complex ecological systems.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=26411
Mühlbauer, L.K., Harpole, W.S., Clark, A.T. (2022):
Differences in initial abundances reveal divergent dynamic structures in Gause's predator–prey experiments
Ecol. Evol. 12 (12), e9638 10.1002/ece3.9638