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Cited by 1,267Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics StudiesPlant Ecology and Soil ScienceSoil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

The use of chronosequences in studies of ecological succession and soil development

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Walker, Lawrence R., Wardle, David A., Bardgett, Richard D., Clarkson, Bruce D.·2010·Journal of Ecology
DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2010.01664.x
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Abstract

Summary: 1. Chronosequences and associated space‐for‐time substitutions are an important and often necessary tool for studying temporal dynamics of plant communities and soil development across multiple time‐scales. However, they are often used inappropriately, leading to false conclusions about ecological patterns and processes, which has prompted recent strong criticism of the approach. Here, we evaluate when chronosequences may or may not be appropriate for studying community and ecosystem development. 2. Chronosequences are appropriate to study plant succession at decadal to millennial time‐scales when there is evidence that sites of different ages are following the same trajectory. They can also be reliably used to study aspects of soil development that occur between temporally linked sites over time‐scales of centuries to millennia, sometimes independently of their application to shorter‐term plant and soil biological communities. 3. Some characteristics of changing plant and soil biological communities (e.g. species richness, plant cover, vegetation structure, soil organic matter accumulation) are more likely to be related in a predictable and temporally linear manner than are other characteristics (e.g. species composition and abundance) and are therefore more reliably studied using a chronosequence approach. 4. Chronosequences are most appropriate for studying communities that are following convergent successional trajectories and have low biodiversity, rapid species turnover and low frequency and severity of disturbance. Chronosequences are least suitable for studying successional trajectories that are divergent, species‐rich, highly disturbed or arrested in time because then there are often major difficulties in determining temporal linkages between stages. 5. Synthesis. We conclude that, when successional trajectories exceed the life span of investigators and the experimental and observational studies that they perform, temporal change can be successfully explored through the judicious use of chronosequences.

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  • The chronosequence approach is the best alternative for measuring temporal SOC changes with differing management when compared within soil types, and has been used widely throughout the ecological sciences.

    “While it has limitations, without baseline SOC data for each field, the chronosequence approach is the best alternative for measuring temporal SOC changes with differing management when compared within soil types and has been used widely throughout the ecological sciences (Walker et al., 2010).”

    From Ecosystem Impacts and Productive Capacity of a Multi-Species Pastured Livestock System (2020) · cites this paper as Walker et al., 2010

    The Introduction describes chronosequences as the most frequently used indirect approach to studying temporal dynamics, and the Abstract identifies soil organic matter accumulation as a feature they can study. The paper does not establish that they are the best alternative for measuring field-level SOC changes under differing management when baseline data are absent, even if comparisons are within soil types. It stresses that their suitability depends on whether sites can be linked along a temporal trajectory. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Walker, L. R., Wardle, D. A., Bardgett, R. D., & Clarkson, B. D.
Affiliations
  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas (US)
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SE)
  • Lancaster University (GB)
  • University of Waikato (NZ)
Corresponding author
Walker, Lawrence R.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Ecology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2010-06-11
Volume
98
Issue
4
Pages
725-736
ISSN
  • 0022-0477 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2745
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2745.2010.01664.x
OpenAlex
W2148679320
Cited by
1,267
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 115 · 2025: 103 · 2024: 91 · 2023: 80 · 2022: 89 · 2021: 100 · 2020: 108 · 2019: 81 · 2018: 90 · 2017: 62 · 2016: 79 · 2015: 66 · 2014: 78 · 2013: 46 · 2012: 43
FWCI
33.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Journal of Ecology (publishedVersion)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
  • Research Commons (University of Waikato) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation (0620910)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Plant Ecology and Soil Science
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
Keywords
chronosequence, ecological succession, soil formation, space-for-time substitution, plant communities, successional trajectories, species richness, soil organic matter accumulation, disturbance, species turnover, temporal dynamics

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