Study Links Diversity to Ecosystem Stability in a Fish Community

Lenfest Published Paper February 7, 2018 Read time:

Projects: Developing and Empirical Dynamic Framework for Gulf Menhaden

This 2018 study of a community of fish species uses an emerging method called empirical dynamic modeling to confirm the theory that more species-rich ecosystems are also more stable. Surprisingly, it also suggests that both diversity and stability change far more frequently than previous studies had recognized. This finding could lead to methods that better anticipate, and help managers prevent, sudden ecosystem collapse.

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Massayuki Ushio, Chih-hao Hsieh, Reiki Masuda, Ethan R Deyle, Hao Ye, Chun-Wei Chang, George Sugihara & Michio Kondoh. 2018. "Fluctuating Interaction Network and Time-Varying Stability of a Natural Fish Community." Nature. doi:10.1038/nature25504.