(par 3. 9 ) Successional Changes in Communities
http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/successional-changes-in-communities-13261649 By: Jamie M. Kneitel (Department of Biological Sciences, California State University) © 2010 Nature Education Citation: Kneitel, J. (2010) Successional Changes in Communities. Nature Education Knowledge 3(10):41 In the field of ecology, community composition changes over time. The study of succession addresses this change, which can be influenced by the environment, biotic interactions, and dispersal. Over the course of several years, you can return to […]
(par 3. 9 ) Succession: A Closer Look
Succession: A Closer Look http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/succession-a-closer-look-13256638 By: Sarah M. Emery (Department of Biology, University of Louisville) © 2010 Nature Education Citation: Emery, S. (2010) Succession: A Closer Look. Nature Education Knowledge 3(10):45 What do volcanoes, glaciers, sand dunes, storms, agriculture, and fire have in common? They all initiate the process of succession in communities. Succession refers to a directional, predictable change in community structure over time (Grime […]
(par 3. 9 ) Ecological Homeostasis
Ecological Homeostasis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeostasis The concept of homeostasis is central to the topic of Ecological Stoichiometry. There, it refers to the relationship between the chemical composition of an organism and the chemical composition of the nutrients it consumes. Stoichiometric homeostasis helps explain nutrient recycling and population dynamics. Throughout history, ecological succession was seen as having a stable end-stage called […]