AI Article Synopsis

  • * These changes are hard to identify because they can be caused by sudden shifts in factors like climate or resource use, gradual changes, or the interplay of multiple issues.
  • * It’s crucial to understand and diagnose these changes so that society can adapt effectively to the fast and complex environmental shifts we are facing.

Article Abstract

Abrupt ecological changes are, by definition, those that occur over short periods of time relative to typical rates of change for a given ecosystem. The potential for such changes is growing due to anthropogenic pressures, which challenges the resilience of societies and ecosystems. Abrupt ecological changes are difficult to diagnose because they can arise from a variety of circumstances, including rapid changes in external drivers (e.g., climate, or resource extraction), nonlinear responses to gradual changes in drivers, and interactions among multiple drivers and disturbances. We synthesize strategies for identifying causes of abrupt ecological change and highlight instances where abrupt changes are likely. Diagnosing abrupt changes and inferring causation are increasingly important as society seek to adapt to rapid, multifaceted environmental changes.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2018.04.013DOI Listing

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