264
10 Assessing Stability Properties
affect the budgets of nutrients and sediment, knowledge about the resilience of
biotic components is required for an assessment of future developments (Reise
1995; Dittmann 1996).
Outlook
The further development of qualitative ecosystem approaches in marine ecology
was already demanded by Bradbury et al. (1986). The approach taken in
ELA W AT offers the possibility to do justice to the qualitative nature of ecological
systems. For the Wadden Sea, characterized by a tidal dynamic, a consideration of
qualitative aspects is rather vital for any research. However, every approach in
ecology and ecosystem research has a different view of a problem and can contribute meaningful insights. Combining a variety of approaches will be a profitable
path for future studies of complex systems.
The analysis of stability properties directs the attention to processes and
mechanisms relevant for a persistence of the system and its components. The
single criteria of the checklist for the analysis of stability properties have their own
relevance in ecology (Grimm 1996) and offer a diagnostic tool for assessing the
relevance of variables of interests, disturbances, scales and hierarchy levels and
for defining reference dynamics. This is a perspective for the future application of
this approach in ecosystem research.
Acknowledgements
I thank Volker Grimm, Carmen-Pia Gunther and two reviewers for comments and
discussions on this chapter. The project was funded by the German Bundesministerium fUr Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie (BMBF) under
grant number 03FCll12 A and B. The responsibility for the contents of the publication rests with the author.
References
Bradbury RH, Green DG. Reichelt RE (1986) Qualitative patterns and proccsses in marine
ecology: A conceptual programme. Mar Eeol Prog Ser 29: 299-304
Bradbury RH, van del' Laan JD, Green DG (1996) The idea of complexity in ecology. Senckenbergiana marit 27: 89-96
Connell JH, Sousa W (1983) On the evidence needed to judge ecological stability or persistence. Am Nat 121: 798-824
Dittmann S (1996) Resilience and exchange processes: integrated view on the ecosystem of the
Wadden Sea. Wadden Sea News Letter 1996-3: 8-9
Dittmann S, Kriincke I, Albers B, Liebezcit G (Eds), (1996) The concept of ecosystems.
Senckenbergiana marit 27: 81-255
Dittmann S, Marcncic H, Roy M (1997) Okosystemforschung im Niedcrsachsischen Wattenmeer. In: Franzle 0, Muller F, SchrOder W (Eds) Handbuch der Umweltwissenschaften.
Ecomed. Landsberg, V -4.1.2
Gatje C, Reise R (1998) Okosystem Wattenmeer. Austausch-, Transport- und Stoffumwandlungsprozcsse. Springer. Berlin Heidelberg New York
10 Assessing Stability Properties
affect the budgets of nutrients and sediment, knowledge about the resilience of
biotic components is required for an assessment of future developments (Reise
1995; Dittmann 1996).
Outlook
The further development of qualitative ecosystem approaches in marine ecology
was already demanded by Bradbury et al. (1986). The approach taken in
ELA W AT offers the possibility to do justice to the qualitative nature of ecological
systems. For the Wadden Sea, characterized by a tidal dynamic, a consideration of
qualitative aspects is rather vital for any research. However, every approach in
ecology and ecosystem research has a different view of a problem and can contribute meaningful insights. Combining a variety of approaches will be a profitable
path for future studies of complex systems.
The analysis of stability properties directs the attention to processes and
mechanisms relevant for a persistence of the system and its components. The
single criteria of the checklist for the analysis of stability properties have their own
relevance in ecology (Grimm 1996) and offer a diagnostic tool for assessing the
relevance of variables of interests, disturbances, scales and hierarchy levels and
for defining reference dynamics. This is a perspective for the future application of
this approach in ecosystem research.
Acknowledgements
I thank Volker Grimm, Carmen-Pia Gunther and two reviewers for comments and
discussions on this chapter. The project was funded by the German Bundesministerium fUr Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie (BMBF) under
grant number 03FCll12 A and B. The responsibility for the contents of the publication rests with the author.
References
Bradbury RH, Green DG. Reichelt RE (1986) Qualitative patterns and proccsses in marine
ecology: A conceptual programme. Mar Eeol Prog Ser 29: 299-304
Bradbury RH, van del' Laan JD, Green DG (1996) The idea of complexity in ecology. Senckenbergiana marit 27: 89-96
Connell JH, Sousa W (1983) On the evidence needed to judge ecological stability or persistence. Am Nat 121: 798-824
Dittmann S (1996) Resilience and exchange processes: integrated view on the ecosystem of the
Wadden Sea. Wadden Sea News Letter 1996-3: 8-9
Dittmann S, Kriincke I, Albers B, Liebezcit G (Eds), (1996) The concept of ecosystems.
Senckenbergiana marit 27: 81-255
Dittmann S, Marcncic H, Roy M (1997) Okosystemforschung im Niedcrsachsischen Wattenmeer. In: Franzle 0, Muller F, SchrOder W (Eds) Handbuch der Umweltwissenschaften.
Ecomed. Landsberg, V -4.1.2
Gatje C, Reise R (1998) Okosystem Wattenmeer. Austausch-, Transport- und Stoffumwandlungsprozcsse. Springer. Berlin Heidelberg New York