Benthic invertebrates in the Wadden Sea form a stable community characterized by facilitating relationships

Entire tidal food webs rely on the presence and productivity of benthic
invertebrates. These invertebrates recycle nutrients, decompose organic
matter, and function as food for myriad species at higher trophic levels.
The interactions between benthic invertebrate species also plays an
important role in shaping the ecological functioning of these ecosystems.
Here, we used a deep-learning species distribution model to characterise
the interspecific interactions occurring in an intertidal benthic
invertebrate community while accounting for abiotic factors. The data
includes > 30 000 samples collected between 2008-2020, over a
spatial grid of more than 2 400 km2 in the Wadden Sea.  The
benthic invertebrates in the Wadden Sea were shown to form a stable
community where species engage in relatively few strong interactions in a
larger network of weak interactions. This corroborates classical theory on
stability-connectivity relations. We provide a steppingstone for
species-specific analysis by showing that numbers of interaction link to
functional species traits. However, the biological interpretation of these
links remains open. We conclude that rather than posing a catch-all
solution for improving our understanding of benthic invertebrate
communities, our approach provides a baseline interaction mapping tool and
starting point for more targeted experiments to elucidate underlying
mechanisms. Note:  The sampling data from the SIBES campaign
including data on sediment composition and species abundance and biomasses
are stored and accessible via Bijleveld, A. I., Tacoma, M. &
Koolhaas, A. SIBES dataset (2024) doi:10.25850/nioz/7b.b.ug. The SIBES
dataset itself is outlined in Bijleveld et al. (2025):  
Bijleveld, A. I., de la Barra, P., Danielson-Owczynsky, H., Brunner, L.,
Dekinga, A., Holthuijsen, S., ... & Bom, R. A. (2025). SIBES:
Long-term and large-scale monitoring of intertidal macrozoobenthos and
sediment in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Scientific Data, 12(1), 239.