The objective of this paper is to recommend conceptual modifications for incorporation in state-and-transition models (STMs) to link this framework explicitly to the concept of ecological resilience. Ecological resilience describes the amount of change or disruption that is required to transform a system from being maintained by one set of mutually reinforcing processes and structures to a different set of processes and structures (e.g., an alternative stable state). In light of this concept, effective ecosystem management must focus on the adoption of management practices and policies that maintain or enhance ecological resilience to prevent stable states from exceeding thresholds. Resilience management does not exclusively focus on identifying thresholds per se, but rather on within-state dynamics that influence state vulnerability or proximity to thresholds. Resiliencebased ecosystem management provides greater opportunities to incorporate adaptive management than does threshold-based management because thresholds emphasize limits of state resilience, rather than conditions that determine the probability that these limits will be surpassed. In an effort to further promote resilience-based management, we recommend that the STM framework explicitly describe triggers, at-risk communities, feedback mechanisms, and restoration pathways and develop process-specific indicators that enable managers to identify at-risk plant communities and potential restoration pathways. Two STMs representing different ecological conditions and geographic locations are presented to illustrate the incorporation and application of these recommendations. We anticipate that these recommendations will enable STMs to capture additional ecological information and contribute to improved ecosystem management by focusing attention on the maintenance of state resilience in addition to the anticipation of thresholds. Adoption of these recommendations may promote valuable dialogue between researchers and ecosystem managers regarding the general nature of ecosystem dynamics. Resumen El objetivo de este documento es recomendar las modificaciones conceptuales para la incorporación en los modelos estado-ytransición (STMs) para ligar explícitamente este marco con el concepto de resistencia ecológica. La resistencia ecológica describe la cantidad de cambio o de interrupción que se requiere para transformar un sistema mantenido con sus procesos y estructuras mutuas a un sistema diferente (ej. un estado estable alternativo). Basándose en esta idea, el manejo eficaz del ecosistema debe centrarse en la adopción de prácticas de manejo y reglamentos que mantengan o promuevan la resistencia ecológica para evitar que los estados estables excedan los umbrales. El manejo de la resistencia no se centra exclusivamente en la identificación de umbrales por sí mismo, sino en las dinámicas dentro del-estado que influencian vulnerabilidad o proximidad del estado a los umbrales. El manejo del ecosistema basado en la resistencia proporciona mayores oportunidades de incorp...
State-and-transition models hold great potential to aid in understanding rangeland ecosystems' response to natural and/or management-induced disturbances by providing a framework for organizing current understanding of potential ecosystem dynamics. Many conceptual state-and-transition models have been developed, however, the ecological interpretation of the model's primary components, states, transitions, and thresholds, has varied due to a lack of universally accepted definitions. The lack of consistency in definitions has led to confusion and criticism indicating the need for further development and refinement of the theory and associated models. We present an extensive review of current literature and conceptual models and point out the inconsistencies in the application of nonequilibrium ecology concepts. The importance of ecosystem stability as defined by the resistance and resilience of plant communities to disturbance is discussed as an important concept relative to state-and-transition modeling. Finally, we propose a set of concise definitions for state-and-transition model components and we present a conceptual model of state/transition/threshold relationships that are determined by the resilience and resistance of the ecosystems' primary ecological processes. This model provides a framework for development of process-based state-and-transition models for management and research. ResumenLos modelos de estados-y-transicion presentan un gran potencial para ayudar a entender la respuesta de los ecosistemas de pastizal a los disturbios naturales y/o inducidos por el manejo al proveer una estructura para organzzar el conocimiento presente de las dinamicas del potential del ecosistema. Muchos modelos conceptuales de estados-y-transicion han sido desarrollados, sin embargo, la interpretacion ecologica de los componentes principales del modelo: estados, transiciones y umbrales han variado debido a la carencia de definiciones universalmente aceptadas. La falta de consistencia en las definiciones ha conducido a confusion y critica indicando la necesidad de un mayor desarrollo y refinamiento de la teoria y los modelos asociados. Nosotros presentamos una revision extensiva de la literatura actual y modelos conceptuales y puntualizamos las inconsistencias en la aplicacion de los conceptos de la ecologia de no equilibrio. La importancia de la estabilidad del ecosistema, detinida como la resistencia y resilencia de las comunidades vegetales a los disturbios, se discute como un concepto importante relativo al modelaje de estados-y-transicion. Finalmente, proponemos un grupo de definiciones concisas para los componentes del modelo de estados-y-transicion y presentamos un modelo conceptual de las relaciones de estados/transiciones/umbrales que estan determinadas por la resilensia y resistencia de los principales procesos ecologicos del ecosistema. Este modelo provee un marco para el desarrollo de modelos de estados-y-transicion basados en procesos para manejo a investigacion.1986, Tausch et al. 1993). After 50 y...
State and transition models (STMs) are used to organize and communicate information regarding ecosystem change, especially the implications for management. The fundamental premise that rangelands can exhibit multiple states is now widely accepted and has deeply pervaded management thinking, even in the absence of formal STM development. The current application of STMs for management, however, has been limited by both the science and the ability of institutions to develop and use STMs. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive and contemporary overview of STM concepts and applications at a global level. We first review the ecological concepts underlying STMs with the goal of bridging STMs to recent theoretical developments in ecology. We then provide a synthesis of the history of
An understanding of the extent of land degradation and recovery is necessary to guide land‐use policy and management, yet currently available land‐quality assessments are widely known to be inadequate. Here, we present the results of the first statistically based application of a new approach to national assessments that integrates scientific and local knowledge. Qualitative observations completed at over 10 000 plots in the United States showed that while soil degradation remains an issue, loss of biotic integrity is more widespread. Quantitative soil and vegetation data collected at the same locations support the assessments and serve as a baseline for monitoring the effectiveness of policy and management initiatives, including responses to climate change. These results provide the information necessary to support strategic decisions by land managers and policy makers.
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