Succession as a unifying model of ecosystem ecology and conservation 

Allgeier  and Zak, 2026

Restoring ecosystem function and services requires a refined understanding of ecological succession because of the increased frequency and magnitude of disturbances in the Anthropocene. Ecosystem ecology has gained increasing attention for its utility in conservation over the past decade because it relies on fundamental principles to generate models from which basic processes, such as primary, secondary, or ecosystem production, can be predicted—all of which form the basis for ecological services. Despite this, ecosystem ecology lacks a unifying framework that can provide universal predictions about the trajectory of ecosystem production and, thus, can be effectively applied to restore ecosystem function and services in the Anthropocene.

Succession is a fundamental concept in ecology because it provides perspectives on how ecosystems change over time and respond following disturbance. It is also a useful concept for conservation and restoration because human activity has increased the frequency and magnitude of disturbances globally. Ecosystem ecology offers a unique perspective on succession because it views dynamics through the lens of process-based currencies—such as net ecosystem production—that subsume multiple simultaneous properties of energy and nutrient flow, thereby providing a useful measure with which to monitor and anticipate net change. Studying succession through these perspectives reveals fundamental patterns that unify central principles of ecosystem ecology and provide a predictive model on which to base conservation and restoration efforts.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169534726001503