A Simple Model of Recovery Dynamics after Mass Extinction

Biotic recoveries following mass extinctions are characterized by a complex set of dynamics, including the rebuilding of whole ecologies from low-diversity assemblages of survivors and opportunistic species. Three broad classes of diversity dynamics during recovery have been suggested: an immediate linear response, a logistic recovery, and a simple positive feedback pattern of species interaction. Here we present a simple model of recovery which generates these three patterns via differences in the extent of species interactions. The model results indicate that the lag time to biotic recovery increases significantly as biotic interactions become more important in the recovery process.