Data from biotic variability and synchrony across hierarchical levels and freshwater networks

Understanding temporal variability and synchrony across biological hierarchical levels (from species to metacommunities) and ecosystems, and their underlying drivers, remains a fundamental ecological question. However, most studies are performed within an ecosystem, overlooking the complexity structuring natural high-level metacommunities across ecosystems. By applying theoretical frameworks of metacommunity variability with phytoplankton datasets across a pond-stream-lake continuum, we show that (i) temporal variability decreases from species to metacommunities, while synchrony exhibits complex hierarchical patterns and varies depending on spatial scales; (ii) temporal variability and synchrony are lower in streams than ponds or the lake, and spatiotemporal community-environment relationships are stronger in the lake than the ponds or streams. These patterns are strongly related to environmental fluctuations, dispersal and species diversity. Our study advances the theoretical and empir..., , , Title: biotic variability and synchrony across hierarchical levels and freshwater networks We have submitted our raw data (**The data supporting the results of the manuscript.xlsx**). Description of files: The data are compiled in an Excel spreadsheet (i.e., The data supporting the results of the manuscript.xlsx) with 10 tabs containing the following information: 1. Fig.3_data, data supporing for Fig.3; 2. Fig.4_data, data supporing for Fig.4; 3. Fig.5ABC_data, data supporing for Fig.5ABC; 4. Fig.5DEF_data, data supporing for Fig.5DEF; 5. Fig.5GHI_data, data supporing for Fig.5GHI; 6. Fig.5JKL_data, data supporing for Fig.5JKL; 7. Fig.5MNO_data, data supporing for Fig.5MNO; 8. Richness_data，data may be interesting for audiences 9. Cell density_data，data may be interesting for audiences 10. Species list_data，data may be interesting for audiences Variables: Species variability: temporal variability in abundance at species level (Note overall that abundance is cell density (cells/mL)..., , **Changes after Sep 29, 2025:** we added the R code to plot figures 3, 4, 5 and calculate variability and synchrony across hierarchical levels