Resilience and Stability of Ecological Systems

摘要: Individuals die, populations disappear, and species become extinct. That is one view of the world. But another world concentrates not so much on presence or absence as upon numbers organisms degree constancy their numbers. These are two very different ways viewing behavior systems usefulness depends properties system concerned. If we examining a particular device designed by engineer to perform specific tasks under rather narrow range predictable external conditions, likely be more concerned with consistent nonvariable performance in which slight departures from goal immediately counteracted. A quantitative is, therefore, essential. With attention focused achieving constancy, critical events seem amplitude frequency oscillations. if dealing profoundly affected changes it, continually confronted unexpected, its becomes less important than persistence relationships. Attention shifts, qualitative questions existence not. Our traditions analysis theoretical empirical ecology have been largely inherited developments classical physics applied variants. Inevitably, there has tendency emphasize qualitative, for it this tradition know just that quantity larger quantity, but precisely how larger. It similarly important, fluctuates, period fluctuation. orientation may simply reflect an analytic approach developed area because was useful then transferred where be. traditional natural systems, might well meaningful reality perceptual convenience. There can some years owls fewer mice others, reverse. Fish wax wane condition, insect over extremes only logarithmic