Forest resilience and tipping points at different spatio-temporal scales: approaches and challenges
Date
2015
Authors
Reyer, C.
Brouwers, N.
Rammig, A.
Brook, B.
Epila, J.
Grant, R.
Holmgren, M.
Langerwisch, F.
Leuzinger, S.
Lucht, W.
Editors
Coomes, D.
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Journal of Ecology, 2015; 103(1):5-15
Statement of Responsibility
Christopher P.O. Reyer, Niels Brouwers, Anja Rammig, Barry W. Brook, Jackie Epila, Robert F. Grant, Milena Holmgren, Fanny Langerwisch, Sebastian Leuzinger, Wolfgang Lucht, Belinda Medlyn, Marion Pfeifer, Jörg Steinkamp, Mark C. Vanderwel, Hans Verbeeck and Dora M. Villela
Conference Name
Abstract
1. Anthropogenic global change compromises forest resilience, with profound impacts to ecosystem functions and services. This synthesis paper reflects on the current understanding of forest resilience and potential tipping points under environmental change and explores challenges to assessing responses using experiments, observations and models. 2. Forests are changing over a wide range of spatio-temporal scales, but it is often unclear whether these changes reduce resilience or represent a tipping point. Tipping points may arise from interactions across scales, as processes such as climate change, land-use change, invasive species or deforestation gradually erode resilience and increase vulnerability to extreme events. Studies covering interactions across different spatio-temporal scales are needed to further our understanding. 3. Combinations of experiments, observations and process-based models could improve our ability to project forest resilience and tipping points under global change. We discuss uncertainties in changing CO₂ concentration and quantifying tree mortality as examples. 4. Synthesis. As forests change at various scales, it is increasingly important to understand whether and how such changes lead to reduced resilience and potential tipping points. Understanding the mechanisms underlying forest resilience and tipping points would help in assessing risks to ecosystems and presents opportunities for ecosystem restoration and sustainable forest management.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
© 2015 The Authors. Journal of Ecology © 2015 British Ecological Society