The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and Patch Dynamics

Download or read book The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and Patch Dynamics written by Steward T.A. Pickett and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2013-10-22 with total page 472 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ecologists are aware of the importance of natural dynamics in ecosystems. Historically, the focus has been on the development in succession of equilibrium communities, which has generated an understanding of the composition and functioning of ecosystems. Recently, many have focused on the processes of disturbances and the evolutionary significance of such events. This shifted emphasis has inspired studies in diverse systems. The phrase "patch dynamics" (Thompson, 1978) describes their common focus. The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and Patch Dynamics brings together the findings and ideas of those studying varied systems, presenting a synthesis of diverse individual contributions.