A spatial regime shift from predator to prey dominance in a large coastal ecosystem

• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01180-0
• Publication Date: 2020-08-27T16:04:01Z
• Authors: Johan S. Eklöf; Göran Sundblad; Mårten Erlandsson; Serena Donadi; Joakim P. Hansen; Britas Klemens Er...; Ulf Bergström
• Keywords: Regime shift; Dominance (genetics); Archipelago; Trophic cascade

Abstract Regime shifts in ecosystem structure and processes are typically studied from a temporal perspective. Yet, theory predicts that large ecosystems with environmental gradients, should start locally gradually spread through space. Here we empirically document spatially propagating shift the trophic of aquatic ecosystem, dominance predatory fish (perch, pike) to small prey fish, three-spined stickleback. Fish surveys 486 shallow bays along 1200 km western Baltic Sea coast during 1979–2017 show started wave-exposed archipelago areas near open sea, but towards wave-sheltered mainland coast. Ecosystem 32 2014 stickleback predation on juvenile predators (predator–prey reversal) generates feedback mechanism appears reinforce shift. In summary, managers must account for spatial heterogeneity dispersal better predict, detect confront regime within ecosystems.