Excitable dynamics and coral reef formation: A simple model of macro-scale structure development

In this work, we demonstrate that key aspects of the dynamical behavior of coral reefs at the macro scale, which evolve over time scales of centuries, can be accurately described using a model that integrates a few fundamental ecological and physical mechanisms. The model displays excitable behavior...

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Main Authors: Miguel Álvarez-Alegría, Pablo Moreno-Spiegelberg, Manuel A. Matías, Damià Gomila
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2025-05-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023196
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author Miguel Álvarez-Alegría
Pablo Moreno-Spiegelberg
Manuel A. Matías
Damià Gomila
author_facet Miguel Álvarez-Alegría
Pablo Moreno-Spiegelberg
Manuel A. Matías
Damià Gomila
author_sort Miguel Álvarez-Alegría
collection DOAJ
description In this work, we demonstrate that key aspects of the dynamical behavior of coral reefs at the macro scale, which evolve over time scales of centuries, can be accurately described using a model that integrates a few fundamental ecological and physical mechanisms. The model displays excitable behavior, generating various dynamical regimes, including traveling pulses and waves, which lead to the formation of spatial structures similar to those observed in real reefs. Notably, this occurs without relying on a classical pattern formation mechanism, such as the Turing scenario. We conduct a thorough analysis of the model's bifurcations in response to two ecologically significant parameters, laying the foundation for using this model to explain coral reef formation.
format Article
id doaj-art-0a3e071d1c3642ce8a184296ace87d22
institution OA Journals
issn 2643-1564
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher American Physical Society
record_format Article
series Physical Review Research
spelling doaj-art-0a3e071d1c3642ce8a184296ace87d222025-08-20T02:30:23ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642025-05-017202319610.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023196Excitable dynamics and coral reef formation: A simple model of macro-scale structure developmentMiguel Álvarez-AlegríaPablo Moreno-SpiegelbergManuel A. MatíasDamià GomilaIn this work, we demonstrate that key aspects of the dynamical behavior of coral reefs at the macro scale, which evolve over time scales of centuries, can be accurately described using a model that integrates a few fundamental ecological and physical mechanisms. The model displays excitable behavior, generating various dynamical regimes, including traveling pulses and waves, which lead to the formation of spatial structures similar to those observed in real reefs. Notably, this occurs without relying on a classical pattern formation mechanism, such as the Turing scenario. We conduct a thorough analysis of the model's bifurcations in response to two ecologically significant parameters, laying the foundation for using this model to explain coral reef formation.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023196
spellingShingle Miguel Álvarez-Alegría
Pablo Moreno-Spiegelberg
Manuel A. Matías
Damià Gomila
Excitable dynamics and coral reef formation: A simple model of macro-scale structure development
Physical Review Research
title Excitable dynamics and coral reef formation: A simple model of macro-scale structure development
title_full Excitable dynamics and coral reef formation: A simple model of macro-scale structure development
title_fullStr Excitable dynamics and coral reef formation: A simple model of macro-scale structure development
title_full_unstemmed Excitable dynamics and coral reef formation: A simple model of macro-scale structure development
title_short Excitable dynamics and coral reef formation: A simple model of macro-scale structure development
title_sort excitable dynamics and coral reef formation a simple model of macro scale structure development
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023196
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AT pablomorenospiegelberg excitabledynamicsandcoralreefformationasimplemodelofmacroscalestructuredevelopment
AT manuelamatias excitabledynamicsandcoralreefformationasimplemodelofmacroscalestructuredevelopment
AT damiagomila excitabledynamicsandcoralreefformationasimplemodelofmacroscalestructuredevelopment