Term Definition
Resilience Ability of the ecosystem to absorb a change in oxygen diffusivity without tipping to the alternative ecosystem state.
Resilience of the oxic state Ability of the ecosystem to absorb a decrease in oxygen diffusivity without shifting from oxic to anoxic. Resilience is therefore higher when the oxic-anoxic tipping point is at lower oxygen diffusivity.
Resilience of the anoxic state Ability of the ecosystem to absorb an increase in oxygen diffusivity without shifting from anoxic to oxic. Resilience is therefore higher when the anoxic-oxic tipping point is at higher oxygen diffusivity.
Dominant group Functional group that dominates a given ecosystem state (oxic state: cyanobacteria; anoxic state: sulfate-reducing bacteria and phototrophic sulfur bacteria).
Suppressed group Functional group that is inhibited in a given ecosystem state and therefore has zero or low abundance (oxic state: sulfate-reducing bacteria and phototrophic sulfur bacteria; anoxic state: cyanobacteria).
Collapse trajectory
Trajectory with increasingly unfavourable conditions for a given functional group, leading to its collapse. (cyanobacteria: trajectory of decreasing oxygen diffusivity; sulfur bacteria: trajectory of increasing oxygen diffusivity)
Recovery trajectory
Trajectory with increasingly favourable conditions for a given functional group, leading to its recovery. (cyanobacteria: trajectory of increasing oxygen diffusivity; sulfur bacteria: trajectory of decreasing oxygen diffusivity)