Interpreting Explanatory Processes for Time Series Patterns: Lessons from Three Time Series

What processes are responsible for time series patterns? This is the seminal question for ecologists and a critical question for society’s response to changing environments. Through an historical review of three time series and the processes proposed as explanations for them, we illustrate that process interpretation begins with descriptive analysis of the time series and is clarified by greater time series length, additional time series from other areas, correlation analysis with ancillary data, simulation models, and experimentation.