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Exploring alternative states in ecological systems with a qualitative analysis of community feedback
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 10:40 authored by Marzloff, MP, Dambacher, JM, Craig JohnsonCraig Johnson, Little, LR, Stewart FrusherStewart FrusherDemonstrating and predicting the existence of alternative states in natural communities remains a challenge for ecologists and is essential for resource managers. Positive feedback is often presented as central in maintaining alternative ecosystem states, but no formal approach relates this part of theory to real world applications. Through qualitative modelling of community response to long-term perturbations, we define generic mechanistic links between positive feedback and the occurrence of alternative states. Positive feedback diminishes a system’s overall resistance to change, and can create and maintain correlations in the relative abundance of variables that coincide with alternative states. Through specific models of the dynamics of Tasmanian rocky-reef communities, which are affected by climate and fishing and persist within alternative states, we demonstrate the ability of our theoretical framework to predict alternative states in ecosystems and inform management intervention. A qualitative knowledge of community structure permits a thorough analysis of system feedback and an assessment of the potential for an ecosystem to exhibit alternative states. We illustrate the usefulness of the approach to inform management priorities, and to focus monitoring and field research on the key drivers of ecosystem dynamics.
History
Publication title
Ecological Modelling: International Journal on Ecological Modelling and Engineering and Systems EcologyVolume
222Issue
15Pagination
2651-2662ISSN
0304-3800Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Elsevier Science BvPlace of publication
Po Box 211, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1000 AeRights statement
The definitive version is available at http://www.sciencedirect.comRepository Status
- Restricted