title: A universal law of the characteristic return time near thresholds.
abstract: Dramatic changes at thresholds in multiple stable ecosystems may be irreversible if caused by man. The characteristic return time to an equilibrium increases when a threshold is approached. A universal law for this increase is found, which may be used to forecast the position of a threshold by extrapolation of empirical data. Harvesting experiments on populations are proposed that can be used to verify the method. Preliminary harvesting experiments on rotifer populations display a good agreement with the theory.
authors.affiliation: Fachbereich Physik der Universität, Lahnberge, D-3550, Marburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wissel