Stability

Abstract

One of the most important features of any ecological system, whether population or community, is its inherent stability — or lack of it! It is also — because of its overwhelming implications in both theoretical and applied studies of natural and manipulated systems — one of the ecological parameters around which there has been the most discussion and controversy, about which most has been written. Clearly we cannot attempt in this chapter to cover the vast literature in tremendous detail. Rather, we review the major points of discussion; such summary is however, indubitably biased by our own opinions, and for a fuller treatment the reader is referred to Usher and Williamson (1974) and Van Dobben and Lowe-McConnell(1975).