¶ … disturbance dynamics, which are defined as dynamic disturbances, especially in wind patterns, i.e. tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. The paper will not focus, however, upon defining these patterns, but rather upon what the study states, how it was conducted and what the results have been.
As a quick summary, the study will focus upon "disturbance regimes," that are said to be changing rapidly (Turner, 2010). These regimes have consequences, and they can be profound; thus, the study "synthesizes current understanding of disturbance with an emphasis on fundamental contributions to contemporary landscape and ecosystem ecology, then identifies future research priorities" (Turner, 2010).
The author of this study also states that studies of disturbance can lead to many insights, and some include:
Heterogeneity
Scale
Thresholds in space
Thresholds in time
New catalyzed ecological paradigms.
Due to the fact that these studies can create various special patterns it is also mentioned by Turner (2010) that these "patterns, disturbances also establish spatial patterns of many ecosystem processes on the landscape," and further adds "drivers of global change will produce new spatial patterns, altered disturbance regimes, novel trajectories of change, and surprises." (Turner, 2010).
The study further focuses upon what opportunities studies of future disturbances can provide, especially in relation to studying pattern -- process interactions. Thus, Turner further states that changing disturbance regimes "will produce acute changes in ecosystems and ecosystem services over the short (years to decades) and long-term (centuries and beyond)." (Turner, 2010).
Lastly, she adds there are, therefore, questions that must be addressed in future research, such as the three below that Turner also describes in her study:
(1) disturbances as catalysts of rapid ecological change,
(2) interactions among disturbances,
(3) relationships between disturbance and society, especially the intersection of land use and disturbance, and (
4) feedbacks from disturbance to other global drivers.
Lastly, Turner states that ecologists "should make a renewed and concerted effort to understand and anticipate the causes and consequences of changing disturbance regimes," and she is absolutely right.
All references from: Turner, Monica G. 2010. Disturbance and landscape dynamics in a changing world. Ecology 91:2833 -- 2849.
