Rapid responses to facilitate ecological discoveries from major disturbances

Abstract

Large-scale natural disturbances are commonplace around the world. They can have profound effects on human infrastructure and populations, as well as substantially influencing key ecological processes, shaping landscapes, and affecting many species. Major natural disturbances also have the potential to produce important ecological and resource management insights. Here, we argue that it is essential to initiate research quickly after such disturbances, and provide examples illustrating the ecological and management discoveries that arise from the early initiation of post-disturbance studies. However, there are currently few funding programs available to support this type of rapid research response. Consequently, many ecological and management learning opportunities are lost. We propose ways to address these problems, including: (1) establishing funding programs specifically directed at supporting studies of ecosystem response and recovery after major disturbances, and (2) encouraging scientists to develop plans for studying natural disturbances before they occur.