Perturbation Experiments in Community Ecology: Theory and Practice
Abstract
We analyze perturbation experiments performed on real and ealized ecological communities. A community may be considered as a black box in the sense that the individual species grow and interact in complicated ways that are difficult to discern. Yet, by observing the response (output) of the system to natural or human—induced disturbances (inputs), information can be gained regarding the character and strengths of species interactions. We decline a perturbation as selective alteration of the density of one or more members of the community, and we distinguish two quite different kinds of perturbations. A PULSE perturbation is a relatively instantaneous alteration of species numbers, after which the system is studied as it "relaxes" back to its previous equilibrium state. A PRESS perturbation is a sustained alteration of species densities (often a complete elimination of particular species): it is maintained until the unperturbed species reach a new equilibrium. The measure of interest in PRESS perturbation is the net change in densities of the unperturbed species. There is a very important difference between these two approaches: PULSE experiments yield information only on direct interactions (e.g. terms in the interaction matrix), while PRESS experiments yield information on direct interactions mixed together with the indirect effects mediated through other species in the community. We develop mathematical techniques that yield measures of ecological interaction between specie…
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- Authors
- Bender, E. A., Case, T. J., & Gilpin, M. E.
- Venue
- Ecology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1984-02
- Volume
- 65
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-13
- ISSN
- 0012-9658 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-9170
- OpenAlex
- W2149049530
- Cited by
- 1,245
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 45 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 43 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 56 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 67 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 59 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 44 · 2014: 50 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 33
- FWCI
- 23.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Ecology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology Models
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Ecosystem dynamics and resilience
- Keywords
- perturbation experiments, community ecology, species interactions, pulse disturbances, interaction matrix, indirect interactions, functional categories, natural variation, temporal variation, random variation, interaction parameters, community dynamics
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