Publication Details |
| Category | Text Publication |
| Reference Category | Journals |
| Title (Primary) | A down-to-earth assessment of stability concepts in ecology: dreams, demands, and the real problems |
| Author | Grimm, V. |
| Source Titel | Senckenbergiana maritima |
| Year | 1996 |
| Department | OESA |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Page From | 215 |
| Page To | 226 |
| Language | englisch |
| Abstract | Ecologists link many doggedly persistent dreams and ideals to the term "stability". However, the imprecision of the term "stability" makes it difficult to apply stability concepts. Hence my first step is to identify the dreams and demands associated with "stability" by analyzing the iconogrphy of "ecological stability". Next, I propose a framework for making stability concepts operational, consisting of a basic vocabulary and an "ecological checklist". In this vocabulary, "stability" is a generic term representing three basic properties - constancy, resilience and persistence. There is thus no such thing as "stability" per se, but there are only stability properties. The ecological checklist is a compilation of characteristics that determine the range of validity of stability assessments. There are six such characteristics: variable of interest, level of description, reference state, disturbance, spatial scale and temporal scale. An ecological situation is not completely specified until all six points have been assessed. Assessments of stability properties can never refer to entire systems, but only to ecological situations. Then I discuss the three basic stability properties (plus the related properties of resistance, elasticity and domain of attraction) in detail, using the framework determined by the vocabulary and the checklist. The emphasis here is placed on the fact that stability concepts are tools, rather than ends in themselves. Finally, I outline the specific role of the concept of persistence. |
| Persistent UFZ Identifier | https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=22400 |
| Grimm, V. (1996): A down-to-earth assessment of stability concepts in ecology: dreams, demands, and the real problems Senckenb. marit. 27 (3), 215 - 226 |
|