The Mosaic-Cycle Concept of Ecosystems

The contributors present a concept for the processes taking place in an ecosystem. This includes a mathematical model which demonstrates that this concept of an ecosystem is considerably less sensitive to disturbances from the environment than the previously considered models/concepts of a "mobile-balance". This concept shows that ecosystem processes may be seen as a continuing cyclic succession which is demonstrated by examples from terrestrial, forest, and aquatic systems. These systems consist of various parts of a mosaic, the cycles of which are running with shifted phases. Together, these phase shifted cycles result in a state of balance for the entire system.

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