Extended Data Fig. 8: Time series of mean biovolume across two major microalgae phyla following ecological perturbations.

Mean microalgae biovolume (ln[μg²]) of Charophyta (A) and Chlorophyta (B) following predator mass mortality events (MMEs, light green), predator removals (light blue), and resource pulses (dark green), as well as the undisturbed system (control, dark blue). Points and lines indicate mean values and +/− 1 SE for each sampling period and treatment, with points jittered to reduce overlap within sample periods. Solid lines and shaded regions indicate model predictions and 95% confidence intervals, respectively. Relative to the control, MMEs increased mean biovolume of Charophyta (t_8.83 = 2.47, p = 0.01; A) and Chlorophyta (t_20.96 = 2.93, p < 0.01; B). Predator removals increased mean biovolume of Chlorophyta (t_20.96 = 4.32, p < 0.01; A). Dashed lines indicate when perturbations were induced (i.e., live fish and/or fish carrion added and/or removed). Taxa silhouettes and their colours correspond with major microalgae phyla as in main figures. Data were analysed from 240 biologically independent samples of Charophyta (A) for a control, (n = 80), predator removal (n = 54), resource pulse (n = 54), and MME (n = 52), as well as 283 biologically independent samples of Chlorophyta (B) for a control, (n = 79), predator removal (n = 59), resource pulse (n = 70), and MME (n = 75), from one experiment. General additive mixed model (GAMM, A-B).