Ecology
Temporal Buffering
Mechanisms that smooth out short-term environmental fluctuations, allowing organisms or ecosystems to persist through temporary adverse conditions.
Biological Context
Seeds banks buffer plant populations against bad years. Fat stores buffer animals against food scarcity. Soil organic matter buffers against drought. Long-lived individuals buffer populations against recruitment failures. Temporal buffering converts hostile episodes into survivable intervals.
Business Application
Financial reserves, diversified revenue streams, and long-term contracts provide temporal buffering for businesses. Organizations without buffers are vulnerable to short-term shocks that buffered competitors survive.