Elucidating ecological complexity: Unsupervised learning determines global marine eco-provinces

Journal Article
Elucidating ecological complexity: Unsupervised learning determines global marine eco-provinces
Sonnewald, M., S. Dutkiewicz, C. Hill and G. Forget (2020)
Science Advances, 6(22, eaay4740) (doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aay4740)

Abstract/Summary:

Abstract: An unsupervised learning method is presented for determining global marine ecological provinces (eco-provinces) from plankton community structure and nutrient flux data. The systematic aggregated eco-province (SAGE) method identifies eco-provinces within a highly nonlinear ecosystem model. To accommodate the non-Gaussian covariance of the data, SAGE uses t-stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) to reduce dimensionality. Over a hundred eco-provinces are identified with the density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) algorithm. Using a connectivity graph with ecological dissimilarity as the distance metric, robust aggregated eco-provinces (AEPs) are objectively defined by nesting the eco-provinces. Using the AEPs, the control of nutrient supply rates on community structure is explored. Eco-provinces and AEPs are unique and aid model interpretation. They could facilitate model intercomparison and potentially improve understanding and monitoring of marine ecosystems.

Citation:

Sonnewald, M., S. Dutkiewicz, C. Hill and G. Forget (2020): Elucidating ecological complexity: Unsupervised learning determines global marine eco-provinces. Science Advances, 6(22, eaay4740) (doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aay4740) (https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/22/eaay4740/tab-e-letters)
  • Journal Article
Elucidating ecological complexity: Unsupervised learning determines global marine eco-provinces

Sonnewald, M., S. Dutkiewicz, C. Hill and G. Forget

6(22, eaay4740) (doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aay4740)
2020

Abstract/Summary: 

Abstract: An unsupervised learning method is presented for determining global marine ecological provinces (eco-provinces) from plankton community structure and nutrient flux data. The systematic aggregated eco-province (SAGE) method identifies eco-provinces within a highly nonlinear ecosystem model. To accommodate the non-Gaussian covariance of the data, SAGE uses t-stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) to reduce dimensionality. Over a hundred eco-provinces are identified with the density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) algorithm. Using a connectivity graph with ecological dissimilarity as the distance metric, robust aggregated eco-provinces (AEPs) are objectively defined by nesting the eco-provinces. Using the AEPs, the control of nutrient supply rates on community structure is explored. Eco-provinces and AEPs are unique and aid model interpretation. They could facilitate model intercomparison and potentially improve understanding and monitoring of marine ecosystems.

Posted to public: 

Monday, June 8, 2020 - 12:30