Alternative Stable States
Multiple stable configurations an ecosystem can occupy under the same environmental conditions. The current state depends on history, and transitions between states may require large perturbations.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 2 chapters:
"...otters), they can devastate kelp forests, creating "urchin barrens" - rocky areas devoid of macroalgae. But kelp forests and urchin barrens represent alternative stable states - different emergent configurations of the same ecosystem components. The transition between states involves positive feedback: in kelp-dominated st..."
"...ocess mirrors ecological succession with uncanny precision. The mechanisms that drive forest regeneration - facilitation, environmental modification, alternative stable states, and threshold effects - also drive organizational evolution. Three principles will recur throughout this chapter: :::share{variant="teal" labe..."
Biological Context
Lakes can be clear (vegetation-dominated) or turbid (algae-dominated) under identical nutrient conditions. Coral reefs and algae-dominated reefs are alternatives. Once in one state, the system resists shifting to the other. Understanding alternative stable states helps predict ecosystem responses to disturbance.