TY - JOUR
T1 - Positive feedback in aquatic ecosystems
AU - Stone, Lewi
AU - Weisburd, Richard S.J.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgements We thank Tom Berman, Barry Sherr and anonymous referees for their help and constructive criticisms. This work was supported by Griffith University, grant no. 870006 from the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation, the US-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund Postdoctoral Fellowship US-0076-87 (RW), and Science and Technology Agency of Japan Fellowship 190081 UW.
PY - 1992/8
Y1 - 1992/8
N2 - Aquatic ecosystems offer striking examples of how positive feedback can be integral to the dynamics of complex communities. In particular, microorganisms (bacteria and protozoa) introduce a multitude of positive feedback pathways by rapidly recycling nutrients at the very base of many aquatic food webs. The relatively large magnitude of fluxes being shunted through this 'microbial loop' allows an accumulation of nutrients in localized areas, promotes a general build-up of biomass, and acts as a 'life-support system' in harsh environments. In contrast to customary notions which portray positive feedback effects as undesirable, a reassessment indicates that this 'bootstrapping' can often be advantageous for many organisms.
AB - Aquatic ecosystems offer striking examples of how positive feedback can be integral to the dynamics of complex communities. In particular, microorganisms (bacteria and protozoa) introduce a multitude of positive feedback pathways by rapidly recycling nutrients at the very base of many aquatic food webs. The relatively large magnitude of fluxes being shunted through this 'microbial loop' allows an accumulation of nutrients in localized areas, promotes a general build-up of biomass, and acts as a 'life-support system' in harsh environments. In contrast to customary notions which portray positive feedback effects as undesirable, a reassessment indicates that this 'bootstrapping' can often be advantageous for many organisms.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0027044630&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0169-5347(92)90172-8
DO - 10.1016/0169-5347(92)90172-8
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AN - SCOPUS:0027044630
VL - 7
SP - 263
EP - 267
JO - Trends in Ecology and Evolution
JF - Trends in Ecology and Evolution
SN - 0169-5347
IS - 8
ER -