Collapse, reorganization, and regime identity: breaking down past management paradigms in a forest-grassland ecotone

Victoria M Donovan,Craig R Allen,David G Angeler,Caleb P Roberts,Daniel R Uden,Rhae A Drijber,Dirac Twidwell,David A Wedin,Carissa L Wonkka

doi:10.5751/es-12340-260227

Abstract

Donovan, V. M., C. P. Roberts, C. L. Wonkka, D. R. Uden, D. G. Angeler, C. R. Allen, D. A. Wedin, R. A. Drijber, and D. Twidwell. 2021. Collapse, reorganization, and regime identity: breaking down past management paradigms in a forest-grassland ecotone. Ecology and Society 26(2):27. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-12340-260227

Highlights

Rapid global change is expected to increase rates of ecosystem collapse across the globe, leading to abrupt and persistent shifts in ecosystem structure and function (Rocha et al 2015)
Ecological resilience theory was shaped by Holling (1973), where he proposed that a single system could exist in multiple alternative ecological regimes, each composed of their own unique structures, functions, and feedbacks that make up its regime identity
Forest expected to transition into a grassland following high severity fire hosted significantly different community compositions and structures than unburned grasslands

Summary

Introduction

Rapid global change is expected to increase rates of ecosystem collapse across the globe, leading to abrupt and persistent shifts in ecosystem structure and function (Rocha et al 2015). These dynamics are encompassed in modern resilience theory, bringing it to the forefront of global change policy. Increasing evidence of sustained and sometimes irreversible losses of ecosystem services (Scheffer et al 2001, Folke et al 2004) has spurred numerous resiliencebased management frameworks that focus on preventing ecological regime shifts

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Conclusion