Scaling-up ecosystem functions of coastal heterogeneous sediments: testing practices using high resolution data

Abstract Context Heterogeneity in coastal soft sediments and the difficulty of data collection hinder our ability to scale up ecological (necessarily obtained at small-scale) large-scale. The use scaling marine ecology is not as common terrestrial current practices are often too simplistic inadequate. Objectives We aimed demonstrate that different approaches leads considerably results accounting for heterogeneity decreases accurately extrapolate measurements ecosystem functions performed by intertidal sediment habitats. Methods High resolution raster maps denitrification, ammonia (NH 4 + ) efflux organic matter degradation were sampled produce a simulated dataset compare performance three approaches: direct scaling, spatial allometry semivariogram/kriging. Results Direct underestimated NH (84.1, 84.9 90.3% less) while denitrification (81.9% but overestimated (2594.1 14,879.9% more). Kriging produced more accurate predicted only differed from estimated values 14.7, 29.4 3.9% respectively. Conclusions Our work shows choice method crucial estimating highlights need empirical theoretical models link functioning biological attributes can be measured remotely over large areas. Integrating measures through structure outcomes realistic relevant resource management.