Localised labyrinthine patterns in ecosystems
Abstract Self-organisation is a ubiquitous phenomenon in ecosystems. These systems can experience transitions from a uniform cover towards the formation of vegetation patterns as a result of symmetry-breaking instability. They can be either periodic or localised in space. Localised vegetation patter...
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2021-09-01
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doaj-d5cc97622ad04fc09af4b53eba7c23872021-09-19T11:32:34ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222021-09-0111111210.1038/s41598-021-97472-4Localised labyrinthine patterns in ecosystemsM. G. Clerc0S. Echeverría-Alar1M. Tlidi2Departamento de Física and Millennium Institute for Research in Optics, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de ChileDepartamento de Física and Millennium Institute for Research in Optics, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de ChileDépartement de Physique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.)Abstract Self-organisation is a ubiquitous phenomenon in ecosystems. These systems can experience transitions from a uniform cover towards the formation of vegetation patterns as a result of symmetry-breaking instability. They can be either periodic or localised in space. Localised vegetation patterns consist of more or less circular spots or patches that can be either isolated or randomly distributed in space. We report on a striking patterning phenomenon consisting of localised vegetation labyrinths. This intriguing pattern is visible in satellite photographs taken in many territories of Africa and Australia. They consist of labyrinths which is spatially irregular pattern surrounded by either a homogeneous cover or a bare soil. The phenomenon is not specific to particular plants or soils. They are observed on strictly homogenous environmental conditions on flat landscapes, but they are also visible on hills. The spatial size of localized labyrinth ranges typically from a few hundred meters to ten kilometres. A simple modelling approach based on the interplay between short-range and long-range interactions governing plant communities or on the water dynamics explains the observations reported here.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97472-4 |
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DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
M. G. Clerc S. Echeverría-Alar M. Tlidi |
spellingShingle |
M. G. Clerc S. Echeverría-Alar M. Tlidi Localised labyrinthine patterns in ecosystems Scientific Reports |
author_facet |
M. G. Clerc S. Echeverría-Alar M. Tlidi |
author_sort |
M. G. Clerc |
title |
Localised labyrinthine patterns in ecosystems |
title_short |
Localised labyrinthine patterns in ecosystems |
title_full |
Localised labyrinthine patterns in ecosystems |
title_fullStr |
Localised labyrinthine patterns in ecosystems |
title_full_unstemmed |
Localised labyrinthine patterns in ecosystems |
title_sort |
localised labyrinthine patterns in ecosystems |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
series |
Scientific Reports |
issn |
2045-2322 |
publishDate |
2021-09-01 |
description |
Abstract Self-organisation is a ubiquitous phenomenon in ecosystems. These systems can experience transitions from a uniform cover towards the formation of vegetation patterns as a result of symmetry-breaking instability. They can be either periodic or localised in space. Localised vegetation patterns consist of more or less circular spots or patches that can be either isolated or randomly distributed in space. We report on a striking patterning phenomenon consisting of localised vegetation labyrinths. This intriguing pattern is visible in satellite photographs taken in many territories of Africa and Australia. They consist of labyrinths which is spatially irregular pattern surrounded by either a homogeneous cover or a bare soil. The phenomenon is not specific to particular plants or soils. They are observed on strictly homogenous environmental conditions on flat landscapes, but they are also visible on hills. The spatial size of localized labyrinth ranges typically from a few hundred meters to ten kilometres. A simple modelling approach based on the interplay between short-range and long-range interactions governing plant communities or on the water dynamics explains the observations reported here. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97472-4 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT mgclerc localisedlabyrinthinepatternsinecosystems AT secheverriaalar localisedlabyrinthinepatternsinecosystems AT mtlidi localisedlabyrinthinepatternsinecosystems |
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