The Equilibrium Conundrum.

ABSTRACT: The idea that natural systems tend to be at equilibrium dates back to the origin of the field of ecology and continues to underlie most ecological theory. However, empirical evidence for equilibrium dynamics in nature and in experiments is surprisingly elusive. Here, we address this conundrum by first exploring the history of equilibrium in ecological theory and the evidence for equilibrium dynamics in natural systems. We then search the literature to quantify how empiricists deal with equilibrium in their research and address barriers to integrating the concept of equilibrium into empirical work by providing step-by-step instructions for determining whether a population is at equilibrium. Next, we lay out three ways that equilibrium is embedded in theory, and for each, outline when meetin

SUBMITTER: Grainger TN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12579923 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature