Catalysts and inhibitors of critical transitions in ecological systems.

ABSTRACT: Ecological systems can experience sudden and often irreversible regime shifts, also known as critical transitions, with major consequences such as desertification, locust outbreaks, and coral reef collapse. Anticipating these shifts is a central challenge, particularly under accelerating climate change. Although early warning signals of critical transitions have been widely studied, the mechanisms that drive or prevent them remain less well understood. Here, we develop a theoretical framework based on time-delayed dynamics that allows us to identify processes acting as catalysts or inhibitors of critical transitions in ecological systems. We show that a composite measure combining time-delayed species interactions with species abundances is a key modulator of critical transitions. Beyond t

SUBMITTER: Yang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12799143 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature