Our project probes two central themes: : 1. We will run simulations of lake primary producers (algae), determining the importance of drivers of algal dynamics such as lake depth, size, nutrient content, etc. Conventional algal models are based on vertical, one-dimensional (1D) columns of water where bottom dwelling algae are restricted to a single depth. We have developed a 2-dimensional (2D) model that incorporates a horizontal dimension as well as a vertical dimension, enabling new dynamics and resource gradients that are not possible in conventional 1D models. By comparing 1D model output to that of the more realistic 2D model, we can evaluate the validity of 1D model predictions. 2. We will study the relationship between evolved biodiversity and several functions of ecosystems, in landscapes where resources are spatially heterogeneous. In particular, we are interested in studying systems where evolutionary and ecological dynamics are simultaneous, comparing ecosystem function of communities with emergent biodiversity driven by evolution, and artificially assembled ones. The overarching goal is to understand complex ecosystems and disentangle the fundamental processes that govern ecosystem dynamics.