Question

: In your own words, compare and contrast Gleasonian vs. Clementsian community Ecology. Your book only discusses Gleason, but there is PLENTY online about the debate. Provide examples that support each (top points for finding examples NOT included in our book or ppts. What is the consensus as to which seems to best describe most communities  

Answer 1

Answer

Contrasting features:

The Gleasonian model was more multifaceted than the Clementsian. The Gleasonian model is lesser deterministic than the Clementsian. The Gleasonian model preferred a more basic view of plant succession. The Gleasonian model gave the individualistic concept for the community while Clementsian theorized the community operated as a whole. Patch boundaries do not migrate to the Clementsian model. Multiple species relate to each patch type in the Clementsian model. The more ordered and predictable model is the Clementsian model. Climax community can vary under perturbation in the Gleasonian model

Comparisons:

Both models had the same core views on the study of plant succession. Gleasonian model is gradient-based while Clementsian model is patch-based. Clementsian includes multi-species but Gleasonian includes single species. Gleasonian model used surface metrics while the Clementsian model used patch metrics.