In contrast to the global trend, seagrass beds have recovered in size and density in the northern part of the European Wadden Sea, but ecosystem effects of seagrass recovery and the impacts to ecosystem services are largely unknown. We used temporal-dynamic food web modeling Ecopath with Ecosim to assess potential ecosystem effects of seagrass recovery in the semi-enclosed Sylt-Rømø Bight at the German-Danish border. In addition to changes in the system's structure and functioning over time, the model predicted changes in biomass of seagrass-associated species. For seagrass consumers, we projected an increase in biomass as a result of an increase in food supply. Likewise, the model predicted an increase in biomass of seagrass meadow inhabitants from decreased predation pressure. Correspondingly, the main predators of these inhabitants decreased in biomass according to model results. Proxies representing ecosystem services predicted an increase of tourism appeal of the site with increasing seagrass meadows. Indirect mediation effects of seagrass severely influenced the model output and are thus crucial to forecast potential effects of the recovery of habitat-forming species. Our study illustrates that holistic approaches such as food web models could provide a suitable basis for predicting ecosystem effects of changes in the biomass of habitat-forming species such as seagrasses.

中文翻译：

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食物网模型揭示了北瓦登海海草恢复对生态系统的潜在影响

与全球趋势相反，欧洲瓦登海北部海草床的大小和密度已经恢复，但海草恢复对生态系统的影响以及对生态系统服务的影响在很大程度上是未知的。我们使用带有 Ecosim 的时间动态食物网建模 Ecopath 来评估海草恢复对德国-丹麦边境半封闭 Sylt-Rømø Bight 的潜在生态系统影响。除了系统结构和功能随时间的变化外，该模型还预测了海草相关物种生物量的变化。对于海草消费者，我们预计由于食物供应增加，生物量会增加。同样，该模型预测由于捕食压力降低，海草草甸居民的生物量会增加。相应地，根据模型结果，这些居民的主要捕食者的生物量减少了。代表生态系统服务的代理预测该地点的旅游吸引力会随着海草草地的增加而增加。海草的间接中介效应严重影响了模型输出，因此对于预测栖息地形成物种恢复的潜在影响至关重要。我们的研究表明，食物网模型等整体方法可以为预测海草等栖息地形成物种的生物量变化对生态系统的影响提供合适的基础。海草的间接中介效应严重影响了模型输出，因此对于预测栖息地形成物种恢复的潜在影响至关重要。我们的研究表明，食物网模型等整体方法可以为预测海草等栖息地形成物种的生物量变化对生态系统的影响提供合适的基础。海草的间接中介效应严重影响了模型输出，因此对于预测栖息地形成物种恢复的潜在影响至关重要。我们的研究表明，食物网模型等整体方法可以为预测海草等栖息地形成物种的生物量变化对生态系统的影响提供合适的基础。