Comparative ecosystem modelling of dynamics and stability of subtropical estuaries under external perturbations in the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract Human intervention and climate change jointly influence the functions dynamics of marine ecosystems. Studying impacts human on ecosystem is challenging. Unlike experimental studies, research natural systems not amendable at scale time, space, biology. With confounding factors well balanced for two adjacent subtropical estuaries except urbanized disturbances, we conducted modelling using indirect reasoning by exclusion to quantify relative disruption estuarine ecosystems under variability. One major finding this study that tends magnify species fluctuations, complicate interaction network, enhance strength combined with disclosed downscaling effects (indexed as North Atlantic Oscillation Multi-decadal Oscillation) hydrology biological communities. In addition, functional groups appeared respond more diversely external forcing in company interventions. While perturbation was shown destabilize ecosystems, making them vulnerable environmental variability change, buffering diversity trophic tend underpin functions. The findings contribute holistic assessment strategic management subjected disturbances face change.