Community

dynamics
Complexity
- function of the
number of
interconnections
among community
elements
horizontal
complexity
= competitive
interactions among
species of same
trophic level
vertical complexity
= trophic interactions
(e.g. prey-predator,
plant-herbivore)
Stability
- when no changes
can be detected in
the identities or
population sizes of
member species
a community in
equilibrium for a
long time is likely to
be stable
a stable community
need never be at
equilibrium
(e.g. prey-predator
cycle)
Components of
stability
resistance
ability to avoid
change
resilience
ability to return to
its original state
quickly following
change
Resilience
elasticity
how quickly
amplitude
how much a
disturbance it can
return from
a community can
be considered to
be only as resilient
as its least
resilient species
Does diversity or
complexity
promote stability?
stable environment
> persistence of
complex and fragile
community
variable environment
> dynamically robust
and simple communities
Ecological
Succession
Theories and
Implications
An ecosystem, after
a disturbance,
immediately begins
recovery through an
orderly process of
succession.
Disturbance
relative discrete
event in time and
space that alters the
structure of
populations,
communities, and
ecosystems
event that:
kills organisms
destroys or
modifies habitats
change abiotic
conditions
Causes of
disturbance
natural
human-caused
intensity
frequency
scale
Dimensions of
disturbance
1. Intensity
the amount of
biomass removed
number of
individuals killed
2. Frequency
average amount of
time between each
disturbance event
3. Scale
spatial scope of the
disturbance
can vary from a
small, localized patch
to the entire
landscape
Examples of
intermediate
disturbance in
natural ecosystems
Medium Medium Low Surface fires in dry
summer tropical
forests
Medium Medium Medium Ice and sleet damage to
trees in temperate
forests
Medium High Low Removal of above-
ground biomass by
grazing
Large Low High Hurricane damage to
coral reef or coastal
tropical forest
Small High Low Natural wind-felling of
trees in forests
Scale Freq Inten Nature of
disturbance
Ecosystem
Recovery through
Succession
Dynamics of recovery:
1. modification of
the physical
environment by
biotic community
2. changes in diversity
and abundance of
species
3. shifts in energy flow
from production to
respiration
Succession
process of ecosystem
development where distinct
changes in community
structure and
function occur
over time
Types of succession:
Primary
Secondary
What are the
implications of
succession theories
on ecosystem
restoration and
management?