The influence of spatial fluxes on meta-ecosystem dynamics: theorical perspectives and practical applications along the river-sea continuum

ongoing

Global environmental changes often transcend traditional boundaries between terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, with many species and nutrients moving across these borders. Despite this, biodiversity and ecosystem functions are typically studied in isolation, and policy goals such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) often address these ecosystems separately. To address this issue, the RIVERSEA project proposes a novel approach by integrating meta-ecosystem science, which accounts for the interconnectedness of ecosystems and aims to enhance our understanding of how spatial fluxes of nutrients and organisms impact meta-ecosystem structure and dynamics. RIVERSEA seeks to elucidate the effects of nutrient and species fluxes along the river-sea continuum, focusing on how these fluxes influence food-web structure, ecosystem functioning, and stability. Nutrient enrichment from sources like agricultural runoff and sewage disrupts these meta-ecosystems over large spatial distances, leading to simplified food webs, nutrient accumulation, and detrimental outcomes such as harmful algal blooms. This project aims to bridge the gap between community and ecosystem ecology by developing a spatially extended food web model to explore these dynamics. It will also use innovative methods to validate theoretical predictions with empirical data, assessing the impacts of human activities on aquatic ecosystems. Finally, RIVERSEA will formulate restoration strategies to mitigate these impacts and stabilize meta-ecosystems. The project’s outcomes will provide crucial insights and tools for effective mitigation, adaptation, and restoration efforts, contributing to the EU’s goals of restoring significant land and sea areas by 2030 and 2050. By combining theoretical and empirical approaches across freshwater and marine environments, RIVERSEA will advance our understanding of meta-ecosystem dynamics and support the development of comprehensive restoration strategies.