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Why Snails? How Gastropods Improve Our Understanding Of Ecological Disturbance, Christopher P. Bloch
Why Snails? How Gastropods Improve Our Understanding Of Ecological Disturbance, Christopher P. Bloch
Bridgewater Review
The concept of equilibrium - the idea that a perturbed system will tend to return to its original state - is the basis for many foundational theories in ecology. Yet, the spatial and temporal dynamics of ecosystems are strongly influenced by disturbance. If a particular disturbance greatly alters local climatic conditions, gastropods should be among the first organisms to show a measurable response. The effects of human alteration of habitats (for example, conversion of forest to agriculture) have much longer-lasting effects than those of natural disturbances.