journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 18:10 authored by Angeler, DG, Allen, CR, Barichievy, C, Eason, T, Garmestani, AS, Graham, NAJ, Granholm, D, Gunderson, LH, Knutson, M, Kirsty NashKirsty Nash, Nelson, RJ, Nystrom, M, Spanbauer, TL, Stow, CA, Sundstrom, SM Human impacts on the environment are multifaceted and can occur across distinct spatiotemporal scales. Ecological responses to environmental change are therefore difficult to predict, and entail large degrees of uncertainty. Such uncertainty requires robust tools for management to sustain ecosystem goods and services and maintain resilient ecosystems.We propose an approach based on discontinuity theory that accounts for patterns and processes at distinct spatial and temporal scales, an inherent property of ecological systems. Discontinuity theory has not been applied in natural resource management and could therefore improve ecosystem management because it explicitly accounts for ecological complexity.Synthesis and applications. We highlight the application of discontinuity approaches for meeting management goals. Specifically, discontinuity approaches have significant potential to measure and thus understand the resilience of ecosystems, to objectively identify critical scales of space and time in ecological systems at which human impact might be most severe, to provide warning indicators of regime change, to help predict and understand biological invasions and extinctions and to focus monitoring efforts. Discontinuity theory can complement current approaches, providing a broader paradigm for ecological management and conservation.History
Publication title
Journal of Applied EcologyVolume
53Pagination
688-698ISSN
0021-8901Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Blackwell Publishing LtdPlace of publication
9600 Garsington Rd, Oxford, England, Oxon, Ox4 2DgRights statement
Copyright 2015 The Authors. Journal of Applied Ecology © 2015 British Ecological SocietySocio-economic Objectives
Assessment and management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystems
