Meta?ecosystem dynamics drive the spatial distribution of functional groups in river networks

The meta-ecosystem concept provides a theoretical framework to study the effect of local and regional flows resources on ecosystem dynamics. Meta-ecosystem theory has hitherto been applied highly abstract landscapes, dynamics in real-world landscapes remain largely unexplored. River networks constitute prime example meta-ecosystems, being characterized by directional resource from upstream downstream communities between terrestrial aquatic realm. These have thoroughly described continuum (RCC), seminal freshwater ecology, stating that observed spatial variations relative abundances invertebrate functional groups reflect systematic shifts types locations food resources, which are turn determined physical attributes river reaches. Hence, RCC represents solid conceptual basis for determining how changes landscape structure will translate into community composition. Here, we develop analyse riverine model inspired RCC, builds upon physically-based dendritic networks. We show distributions biomass stream scaling networks, as well specific rates flows. Neglecting any these aspects modelling meta-ecosystems would result different patterns. Moreover, high flow, due anthropization, negative all studied, can lead cascading extinctions at scale. Our work paves way development models understand functioning ecosystems.