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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #388340
Research Project: Science and Technologies for the Sustainable Management of Western Rangeland Systems

Location: Range Management Research

Title: State-and-transition modelling

Author
item Bestelmeyer, Brandon
item FERNANDEZ-GIMENEZ, MARIA - Colorado State University
item BULGAMAA, DENSAMBUU - Mongolia State Agricultural University
item RETTA, BRUEGGER - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2021
Publication Date: 7/20/2021
Citation: Bestelmeyer, B.T., Fernandez-Gimenez, M., Bulgamaa, D., Retta, B. 2021. State-and-transition modelling. In: Biggs,R., de Vos, A., Preiser, R., Clements,H., Maciejewski,K., Schlüter, M., editors. The Routledge Handbook of Research Methods for Social-Ecological Systems. 1st edition. London, England: Routledge. p. 371-382.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003021339-32

Interpretive Summary: Chapter 27 considers state-and-transition models (STMs), which are tools to explain the causes and consequences of ecosystem change. The chapter discusses general types of STMs, including conceptual STMs, spatial and non-spatial state-and-transition simulation models, process-based STMs and ecosystem service-based STMs. It goes on to discuss the types of social-ecological systems (SES) problems and research questions commonly addressed by this set of methods, as well as their limitations, resource implications and new emerging research directions. The chapter also includes an in-depth case study showcasing the application of STMs, and suggested further readings on these methods.

Technical Abstract: Chapter 27 considers state-and-transition models (STMs), which are tools to explain the causes and consequences of ecosystem change. The chapter discusses general types of STMs, including conceptual STMs, spatial and non-spatial state-and-transition simulation models, process-based STMs and ecosystem service-based STMs. It goes on to discuss the types of social-ecological systems (SES) problems and research questions commonly addressed by this set of methods, as well as their limitations, resource implications and new emerging research directions. The chapter also includes an in-depth case study showcasing the application of STMs, and suggested further readings on these methods.