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Submitted to: Society for Ecological Restoration Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 1/30/2015 Publication Date: 8/23/2015 Citation: Bestelmeyer, B.T. 2015. Operationalizing resilience using state and transition models [abstract]. 68th World Congress on Ecological Restoration. August 23-27, 2015, Manchester, UK. SY48.2 Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: In management, restoration, and policy contexts, the notion of resilience can be confusing. Systematic development of conceptual models of ecological state change (state transition models; STMs) can help overcome semantic confusion and promote a mechanistic understanding of resilience. Drawing on examples from rangelands, I describe basic state change concepts (equilibrium, nonequilibrium, and regime shifts) and how they are matched (or mismatched) to specific ecosystems via historical, comparative, experimental, and monitoring evidence. A key issue is to distinguish regime shifts from other forms of state change. STMs should distinguish strategies used to prevent regime shifts vs. the restoration and management of historical/hybrid/novel ecosystems following a regime shift. Important challenges in the development of STMs include 1) defining reference conditions, 2) considering climate change, and 3) information delivery to users. |
