Pulsed resources and community dynamics of consumers in terrestrial ecosystems

Many terrestrial ecosystems are characterized by intermittent production of abundant resources for consumers, such as mast seeding and pulses of prima ry production following unusually heavy rains. Recent research is revealing patterns in the ways that consumer communities respond to these pulsed res ources. Studies of the ramifying effects of pulsed resources on consumer co mmunities integrate 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' approaches to community dyna mics, and illustrate how the strength of species interactions can change dr amatically through time.