Nonequilibrium Ecology

by Klaus Rohde

• ISBN13: 9780521854344
• ISBN10: 0521854342
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-02-20
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Ecology has long been shaped by ideas that stress the sharing of resources and the competition for those resources, and by the assumption that populations and communities typically exist under equilibrium conditions in habitats saturated with both individuals and species. However, much evidence contradicts these assumptions and it is likely that nonequilibrium is much more widespread than might be expected. This book is unique in focusing on nonequilibrium aspects of ecology, providing evidence for nonequilibrium and equilibrium in populations (and metapopulations), in extant communities and in ecological systems over evolutionary time.

Author Biography

Klaus Rohde is Professor Emeritus at the University of New England, Australia

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	x
Introduction	1	(2)
Concepts and problems	3	(24)
Concepts of equilibrium (balance of nature) and nonequilibrium	3	(3)
History of equilibrium and nonequilibrium ecology: some milestones in the evolution of ideas	6	(7)
Regulation and equilibrium in ecological systems: some experiments and a critical discussion of arguments given in favour of equilibrium	13	(4)
Nonequilibrium in populations and metapopulations: some empirical studies	17	(7)
Defining the problem	24	(3)
Nonequilibrium in communities	27	(22)
Definition and evolution of communities	27	(5)
Equilibrium, and disturbance leading to nonequilibrium	32	(7)
Species nonsaturation and nonequilibria	39	(10)
Interspecific competition: definition and effects on species	49	(21)
Definition and types of competition, resource limitation as its main cause	49	(3)
Effects of competition on species	52	(18)
Interspecific competition: effects in communities and conclusion	70	(11)
General aspects and conclusion	78	(3)
Noncompetitive mechanisms responsible for niche restriction and segregation	81	(9)
Evidence for niche restriction even in the absence of potentially interacting species, and mechanisms responsible	81	(4)
Niche segregation to ensure reinforcement of reproductive barriers	85	(5)
Patterns over evolutionary time, present mass extinctions	90	(9)
The fossil record and interpretations	90	(5)
Recent and present extinctions	95	(4)
Some detailed examples at the population/metapopulation level	99	(10)
Reef fishes: density dependence and equilibrium in populations?	99	(5)
Kangaroos: fluctuations in rainfall are the primary determinant of population size, but there is some ``regulation'' by negative feedback	104	(5)
Some detailed examples at the community level	109	(26)
Tropical rainforests: how is diversity maintained?	109	(12)
Ectoparasites of marine fish: non-interactive unsaturated communities	121	(6)
Insects on bracken, and wasps: type I communities with little evidence for interspecific competition	127	(4)
Larval trematodes in snails: evidence for interspecific competition (and predation) in infracommunities, and for nonequilibrium conditions	131	(4)
Some detailed biogeographical/macroecological patterns	135	(33)
Island biogeography: evidence for equilibrium conditions?	136	(2)
Inter- and intraoceanic patterns: historical events and centers of diversity are important	138	(12)
Freshwater fishes: diversity is determined by the effects of latitude, area, and history, but the effect of productivity is ambiguous	150	(2)
Latitudinal diversity gradients: equilibrium and nonequilibrium explanations	152	(13)
General global patterns in diversity	165	(3)
An autecological comparison: the ecology of some Aspidogastrea	168	(10)
What explains the differences found? A summary, and prospects for an ecology of the future	178	(11)
What explains the differences between communities?	178	(4)
A summary, and prospects for an ecology of the future	182	(7)
References	189	(27)
Taxonomic index	216	(3)
Subject index	219