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Scales of disturbance and their role in plankton ecology

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Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis in Phytoplankton Ecology

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 81))

Abstract

The role of hydraulic and hydrographic disturbances in delaying, arresting or diverting successional sequences from achieving stable, climactic equilibria is discussed by reference to case studies. The critical time scale is expressed in terms of planktonic reproductive generation times. Environmental constancy persisting over some 12–16 generations may permit a climactic condition to be achieved. An Intermediate Disturbance, if sustained, can establish a new successional sequence or, if not, can lead to a reversion to a sequence similar to the predisturbance succession. At intervals of ~ 1 generation time, species are selected according to their ability to accommodate disturbances at the physiological level. Highly disturbed environments are considered to be likely to maintain ‘plagioclimactic’ associations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Windermere Laboratory, Freshwater Biological Association, NERC Institute of Freshwater Ecology, Ambleside, LA22 0LP, UK

    Colin S. Reynolds

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  1. Colin S. Reynolds
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J. Padisák C. S. Reynolds U. Sommer

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© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Reynolds, C.S. (1993). Scales of disturbance and their role in plankton ecology. In: Padisák, J., Reynolds, C.S., Sommer, U. (eds) Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis in Phytoplankton Ecology. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 81. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1919-3_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1919-3_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4233-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-1919-3

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