Effects of multiple stressors on the dimensionality of ecological stability

Ecological stability is a multidimensional construct. Investigating
multiple stability dimensions is key to understand how ecosystems respond
to disturbance. Here, we evaluated the single and combined effects of
common agricultural stressors (insecticide, herbicide and nutrients) on
four dimensions of stability (resistance, resilience, recovery and
invariability) and on the overall dimensionality of stability (DS) using
the results of a freshwater mesocosm experiment. Functional recovery and
resilience to pesticides were enhanced in nutrient-enriched systems,
whereas compositional recovery was generally not achieved. Pesticides did
not affect compositional DS, whereas functional DS was significantly
increased by the insecticide only in nutrient-enriched systems. Stressor
interactions acted non-additively on single stability dimensions as well
as on functional DS. Moreover, we demonstrate that pesticides can modify
the correlation between functional and compositional aspects of stability.
Our study shows that different disturbance types, and their interactions,
require specific management actions to promote ecosystem stability.