Datasets and figures "Response dissimilarity of photoautotrophs to temperature-related extreme events"

This study investigates how thermal extremes alter the population dynamics of three photoautotrophic microalgae: <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i>, <i>Chlorella sp.</i>, and <i>Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803</i>. Utilizing short-term treatments (22∘C–40∘C), we analyzed growth responses in both monocultures and bicultural assemblies. Results revealed distinct thermal niches: <i>Chlorella</i> exhibited thermal sensitivity, <i>Synechocystis</i> demonstrated thermophilic enhancement, and <i>C. reinhardtii</i> displayed a unimodal optimization at moderate temperatures. In mixed communities, functional complementarity reduced growth variability and yielded overyielding effects. These data support the <b>insurance hypothesis</b>, suggesting that interspecific variation in thermal tolerance confers ecosystem resilience and stabilizes productivity against climate-driven disturbances.