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Equilibrium, the new dirty word of ecology
  • Tim Coulson
Tim Coulson
Oxford

Corresponding Author:tim.coulson@zoo.ox.ac.uk

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Abstract

Natural systems are always fluctuating: no two years are identical, with population and community sizes varying from one year to the next. Such variation has led to “equilibrium” becoming almost a dirty word in ecology. Some researchers see the world as being in permanent flux, and consider our field’s historical focus on equilibria as out-dated. But this view is flawed, is driven by current day observations of a world out of kilter, and risks downplaying the risks of ongoing anthropogenic change to civilisation and perhaps too to life on Earth. In this viewpoint, I mount a defence for equilibria.
12 Aug 2020Submitted to Ecology Letters
13 Aug 2020Submission Checks Completed
13 Aug 2020Assigned to Editor
13 Aug 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
18 Sep 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Sep 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
26 Sep 20201st Revision Received
28 Sep 2020Submission Checks Completed
28 Sep 2020Assigned to Editor
28 Sep 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Sep 2020Editorial Decision: Accept
25 Oct 2020Published in Ecology Letters. 10.1111/ele.13629