Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1146/annurev-environ-112420-015910
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Detecting thresholds of ecological change in the anthropocene
Author Spake, R.; Barajas-Barbosa, M.P.; Blowes, S.A.; Bowler, D.E.; Callaghan, C.T.; Garbowski, M.; Jurburg, S.D.; van Klink, R.; Korell, L.; Ladouceur, E.; Rozzi, R.; Viana, D.S.; Xu, W.-B.; Chase, J.M.
Source Titel Annual Review of Environment and Resources
Year 2022
Department BZF; UMB; iDiv; ESS; PHYDIV
Volume 47
Page From 797
Page To 821
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
T7 Bioeconomy
Supplements https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/suppl/10.1146/annurev-environ-112420-015910/suppl_file/EG47_Spake_suppl_table1.pdf
Keywords biodiversity; critical load; extinction threshold; nonlinear; scal; tipping point
Abstract Ecological thresholds comprise relatively fast changes in ecological conditions, with respect to time or external drivers, and are an attractive concept in both scientific and policy arenas. However, there is considerable debate concerning the existence, underlying mechanisms, and generalizability of ecological thresholds across a range of ecological subdisciplines. Here, we use the general concept of scale as a unifying framework with which to systematically navigate the variability within ecological threshold research. We review the literature to show how the observational scale adopted in any one study, defined by its organizational level, spatiotemporal grain and extent, and analytical method, can influence threshold detection and magnitude. We highlight a need for nuance in synthetic studies of thresholds, which could improve our predictive understanding of thresholds. Nuance is also needed when translating threshold concepts into policies, including threshold contingencies and uncertainties.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=26611
Spake, R., Barajas-Barbosa, M.P., Blowes, S.A., Bowler, D.E., Callaghan, C.T., Garbowski, M., Jurburg, S.D., van Klink, R., Korell, L., Ladouceur, E., Rozzi, R., Viana, D.S., Xu, W.-B., Chase, J.M. (2022):
Detecting thresholds of ecological change in the anthropocene
Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour. 47 , 797 - 821 10.1146/annurev-environ-112420-015910