Field experiments showed that nitrogen fertilization mitigates depletion stress and shifts plant growth from negative to positive in the center of patches. The models based on sulfide accumulation and nutrient depletion mechanisms reproduced the field-observed fairy circles, providing a generalized perspective on the emergence of transient patterns in salt marsh ecosystems. Here, combining models and experimental evidence, we show that transient fairy circle patterns in intertidal salt marshes can both infer the underlying ecological mechanisms and provide a measure of resilience. However, existing studies mainly focus on well-developed persistent patterns rather than transient patterns in self-organizing ecosystems.
It reveals resilience and stability to withstand external disturbances and environmental stresses.
Spatial patterning is a fascinating theme in both theoretical and experimental ecology.
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