Combining agent-based, trait-based and demographic approaches to model coral-community dynamics

Abstract
Data availability
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Abstract

The complexity of coral-reef ecosystems makes it challenging to predict their dynamics and resilience under future disturbance regimes. Models for coral-reef dynamics do not adequately account for the high functional diversity exhibited by corals. Models that are ecologically and mechanistically detailed are therefore required to simulate the ecological processes driving coral reef dynamics. Here we describe a novel model that includes processes at different spatial scales, and the contribution of species’ functional diversity to benthic-community dynamics. We calibrated and validated the model to reproduce observed dynamics using empirical data from Caribbean reefs. The model exhibits realistic community dynamics, and individual population dynamics are ecologically plausible. A global sensitivity analysis revealed that the number of larvae produced locally, and interaction-induced reductions in growth rate are the parameters with the largest influence on community dynamics. The model provides a platform for virtual experiments to explore diversity-functioning relationships in coral reefs.

Data availability

All data generated and associated scripts have been deposited in OSF under the DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/CTQ43.

The following previously published data sets were used

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5. Cairns SD
6. Connolly SR
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14. Keith 176 SA
15. Kosnik MA
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20. Martinelli J
21. Mizerek 177 T
22. Pandolfi JM
23. Pochon X
24. Pratchett MS
25. Putnam HM
26. Roberts TE
27. Stat M
28. Wallace 178 CC
29. Widman E
30. Baird AH
(2016) The Coral Trait Database
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https://coraltraits.org
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2. Roy K
(2015) Data from: The future of evolutionary diversity in reef corals
Dryad, doi:10.5061/dryad.178n3.

https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.178n3

Article and author information

Author details

Bruno Sylvain Carturan

Biology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, Canada

For correspondence
bruno.carturan@alumni.ubc.ca

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

"This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0001-6811-1063
Jason Pither

Biology, Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, Canada

For correspondence
jason.pither@ubc.ca

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Jean-Philippe Maréchal

NA, Nova Blue Environment, Schoelcher, France

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Corey J. A. Bradshaw

Global Ecology, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

"This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0002-5328-7741
Lael Parrott

Biology, Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, Canada

For correspondence
lael.parrott@ubc.ca

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

Funding

Canada Foundation for Innovation (Leaders Opportunity Fund,23065)

Jason Pither

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN,2019-05190)

Lael Parrott

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN,2014-04176)

Jason Pither

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.

Copyright

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.