Exploring alternative states in ecological systems with a qualitative analysis of community feedback

Martin P. Marzloff, Jeffrey M. Dambacher, Craig R. Johnson, L. Richard Little and Stewart D. Frusher

Ecological Modelling, 2011, vol. 222, issue 15, 2651-2662

Abstract: Demonstrating and predicting the existence of alternative states in natural communities remains a challenge for ecologists and is essential for resource managers. Positive feedback is often presented as central in maintaining alternative ecosystem states, but no formal approach relates this part of theory to real world applications. Through qualitative modelling of community response to long-term perturbations, we define generic mechanistic links between positive feedback and the occurrence of alternative states. Positive feedback diminishes a system's overall resistance to change, and can create and maintain correlations in the relative abundance of variables that coincide with alternative states.

Keywords: Qualitative modelling; Community matrix; Feedback analysis; Alternative states; Temperate reef ecosystem; Sea urchin grazing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:222:y:2011:i:15:p:2651-2662

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.03.040

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