A theory of pulse dynamics and disturbance in ecology

We propose four postulates as the minimum set of logical propositions necessary for a theory of pulse dynamics and disturbance in ecosystems: (1) resource dynamics characterizes the magnitude, rate, and duration of resource change caused by pulse events, including the continuing changes in resources...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology (Durham) Vol. 100; no. 7; pp. 1 - 15
Main Authors: Jentsch, Anke, White, Peter
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States John Wiley and Sons, Inc 01.07.2019
Ecological Society of America
John Wiley and Sons Inc
Subjects:
Biodiversity
biogeography
Biological Evolution
biological traits
Biomass
Concepts & Synthesis
CONCEPTS & SYNTHESIS: EMPHASIZING NEW IDEAS TO STIMULATE RESEARCH IN ECOLOGY
disturbance
Dynamic stability
Dynamics
Ecology
Ecosystem
Ecosystem dynamics
Ecosystem structure
Ecosystems
Energy flow
probability
resilience
space and time
stability
disturbance
biodiversity
biological traits
biogeography
ecosystem dynamics
resilience
stability
ISSN:0012-9658, 1939-9170, 1939-9170
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:We propose four postulates as the minimum set of logical propositions necessary for a theory of pulse dynamics and disturbance in ecosystems: (1) resource dynamics characterizes the magnitude, rate, and duration of resource change caused by pulse events, including the continuing changes in resources that are the result of abiotic and biotic processes; (2) energy flux characterizes the energy flow that controls the variation in the rates of resource assimilation across ecosystems; (3) patch dynamics characterizes the distribution of resource patches over space and time, and the resulting patterns of biotic diversity, ecosystem structure, and cross-scale feedbacks of pulses processes; and (4) biotic trait diversity characterizes the evolutionary responses to pulse dynamics and, in turn, the way trait diversity affects ecosystem dynamics during and after pulse events. We apply the four postulates to an important class of pulse events, biomass-altering disturbances, and derive seven generalizations that predict disturbance magnitude, resource trajectory, rate of resource change, disturbance probability, biotic trait diversification at evolutionary scales, biotic diversity at ecological scales, and functional resilience. Ultimately, theory must define the variable combinations that result in dynamic stability, comprising resistance, recovery, and adaptation.
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Corresponding Editor: Jeffrey Shima.
Correction statement: The figure caption in Figure 4 was incorrectly set and has since been corrected. The copyright statement for this article was also corrected. We apologize to the authors and our readers for this error.
ISSN:0012-9658
1939-9170
1939-9170
DOI:10.1002/ecy.2734