Comparing large, infrequent disturbances: What have we learned?
Principal Investigators:
Monica G. Turner, and Virginia H. Dale
The importance of natural disturbances in shaping landscapes and
influencing ecosystems is now well recognized in ecology.
Understanding of relatively small disturbances has increased rapidly,
but large infrequent disturbances--such as volcanic eruptions,
hurricanes, big fires, tornadoes, and floods--have not been well
studied.
Whether very large disturbances are qualitatively different from numerous small disturbance remains an unresolved issue in ecology, in part because of a paucity long-term data on the effects of large-scale disturbances.... more
The importance of natural disturbances in shaping landscapes and
influencing ecosystems is now well recognized in ecology.
Understanding of relatively small disturbances has increased rapidly,
but large infrequent disturbances--such as volcanic eruptions,
hurricanes, big fires, tornadoes, and floods--have not been well
studied.
Whether very large disturbances are qualitatively different from numerous small disturbance remains an unresolved issue in ecology, in part because of a paucity long-term data on the effects of large-scale disturbances. Within the past two decades, several very large natural disturbances--such as the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, the Yellowstone fires of 1988, Hurricane Hugo in 1989, the floods in the midwest in 1993--have received considerable post-disturbance ecological research.
We propose a 2.5-day workshop to evaluate whether general conclusions about the ecological effects of large-scale disturbance are suggested.
Participants and Meetings
| Activity | Dates | Further Information |
|---|---|---|
| Workshop | 19th—21st May 1996 | Participant List |
Participant Contact Information
| William L. Baker | bakerwl@uwyo.edu | University of Wyoming |
| Robert Bell | bell@yell.nps.gov | Yellowstone National Park |
| Virginia H. Dale | vhd@ornl.gov | Oak Ridge National Laboratory |
| Edwin H. Everham | eeverham@runet.edu | Radford University |
| David R. Foster | drfoster@fas.harvard.edu | Harvard University |
| Jerry F. Franklin | jff@u.washington.edu | University of Washington |
| Lee E. Frelich | freli001@maroon.tc.umn.edu | University of Minnesota |
| Edward A. Johnson | johnsone@ucalgary.ca | University of Calgary |
| Dennis H. Knight | dhknight@uwyo.edu | University of Wyoming |
| Ariel Lugo | alugo@fs.fed.us | Institute of Tropical Forestry, Puerto Rico |
| James A. MacMahon | jam@cc.usu.edu | Utah State University |
| Max A. Moritz | mmoritz@ucanr.edu | University of California, Santa Barbara |
| Robert T. Paine | University of Washington | |
| Robert K. Peet | peet@unc.edu | University of North Carolina |
| Chris J. Peterson | chris@dogwood.botany.uga.edu | University of Georgia |
| Steward T. Pickett | picketts@ecostudies.org | Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies |
| William H. Romme | fomme_w@fortlewis.edu | Fort Lewis College |
| Richard E. Sparks | rsparks@uiuc.edu | Illinois Natural History Survey |
| Mia Tegner | mtegner@ucsd.edu | University of California, San Diego |
| Monica G. Turner | turnermg@wisc.edu | University of Wisconsin |
Products: Publications, Reports, Datasets, Presentations, Visualizations
| Type | Products of NCEAS Research |
|---|---|
| Journal Article | Dale, Virginia H.; Lugo, Ariel; MacMahon, James A.; Pickett, Steward T. 1998. Ecosystem management in the context of large, infrequent disturbances. Ecosystems. Vol: 1 (6). Pages 546-557. |
| Journal Article | Foster, David R.; Knight, Dennis H.; Franklin, Jerry F. 1998. Landscape patterns and legacies resulting from large, infrequent forest disturbances. Ecosystems. Vol: 1. Pages 497-510. |
| Journal Article | Paine, Robert T.; Tegner, Mia; Johnson, Edward A. 1998. Compounded perturbations yield ecological surprises. Ecosystems. Vol: 1(6). Pages 535-545. |
| Journal Article | Romme, William H.; Everham, Edwin H.; Frelich, Lee E.; Moritz, Max A.; Sparks, Richard E. 1998. Are large, infrequent disturbances qualitatively different from small, frequent disturbances?. Ecosystems. Vol: 1(6). Pages 524-534. |
| Data Set | Romme, William H. 2008. Types of Response of Disturbance Impact to Increasing Disturbance Size. (Online version) |
| Journal Article | Turner, Monica G. 1998. Comparing large, infrequent disturbances: What have we learned?. Ecosystems. Vol: 1. Pages 493-496. |
| Journal Article | Turner, Monica G.; Baker, William L.; Peterson, Chris J.; Peet, Robert K. 1998. Factors influencing succession: Lessons from large, infrequent natural disturbances. Ecosystems. Vol: 1(6). Pages 511-523. |
| Report or White Paper | Turner, Monica G. 1998. Progress report: Introduction manuscript - Comparing large, infrequent disturbances: What have we learned?. (Online version) |
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Additional Info
"Comparing large, infrequent disturbances: What have we learned?" is project ID: 2291