P. S. White’s research while affiliated with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and other places

... Long-term stand dynamics is a complex process driven by stand structure which is often conceptualized as the species composition, size distribution and spatial distribution of trees in a stand (Pielou, 1977;Krebs, 1989;Staudhammer and LeMay, 2001). Stand structure is considered an essential component of forest ecosystem function and a driver of forest dynamics (Pickett and White, 1985;Oliver and Larson, 1996). More complex stand structures are hypothesized to be more resilient to climate change and disturbances (Thompson et al., 2009;Gauthier et al., 2015;Oliver et al., 2015). ...

Reference:

Complexity in long-term stand dynamics of mixed-species, multi-cohort stands using an imputation/copula tree growth model

... In desert plants, seedling survival is much higher in years with high rainfall, and germination rates are correspondingly higher when early season rainfall is high (Evans et al., 2007). Similarly, 'classical disturbances' (White & Pickett, 1985), such as fires, create discrete patches in which resources are higher due to decreased biological use, an ash-bed effect (Serrasolses & Vallejo, 1999;Pausas et al., 2003) and/or increased decomposition. For nonannuals, only the extreme case in which seedling survival is impossible in 'bad' environments has been formally considered (in the context of post-fire germination responses, Lamont et al., 1991). ...

Reference:

Why wait? Three mechanisms selecting for environment-dependent developmental delays

... Ecosystem structure is influenced by a dynamic interplay of deterministic and stochastic processes across various spatial scales (Picket & White, 1985). The absence of statistically significant impacts of environmental, landscape, and spatial variables on zooplankton communities suggests that stochastic processes, such as birth, mortality, dispersion, and colonization, significantly shape these communities (Hubbell, 2001;Chase, 2007). ...

Reference:

Influence of land use, occupation, and riparian zones on zooplankton diversity in Cerrado streams

... Understory herbs thrive within these closed, densely shaded conditions through adaptations that allow them to capture light that has filtered through the canopy, and many complete their life cycle in the spring before the canopy has closed (Hicks and Chabot 1985;Peet 1992). Intense competition for light has induced adaptations in understory herbaceous species that allow them to take advantage of small-scale disturbances created by infrequent, tree fall canopy gaps: the primary form of disturbance in the deciduous forest (Runkle 1985). These adaptations may include rhizomatous expansion, seed dispersal and colonization, or other mechanisms to facilitate rapid expansion into areas with increased light availability (Runkle 1985). ...

Reference:

Conservation Assessment for Bloodroot in the Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota and Wyoming

... The observed low A/C value in the marine ranching ecosystem may be attributed to the fact that increasing system organization levels hinge on the succession of community structure, a process that typically unfolds over an extended period [104,105]. Additionally, external disturbances, such as fishing activities and marine natural disasters, can disrupt the self-organization process of the ecosystem [106]. For instance, massive waves and strong winds caused by typhoons can disturb seabed sediments, leading to a significant decrease in the abundance and species composition of large benthic organisms within a short period [107]. ...

Reference:

Evaluating Ecosystem Characteristics and Ecological Carrying Capacity for Marine Fauna Stock Enhancement Within a Marine Ranching System