Broader perspective on ecosystem sustainability: consequences for decision making.

ABSTRACT: Although the concept of ecosystem sustainability has a long-term focus, it is often viewed from a static system perspective. Because most ecosystems are dynamic, we explore sustainability assessments from three additional perspectives: resilient systems; systems where tipping points occur; and systems subject to episodic resetting. Whereas foundations of ecosystem resilience originated in ecology, recent discussions have focused on geophysical attributes, and it is recognized that dynamic system components may not return to their former state following perturbations. Tipping points emerge when chronic changes (typically anthropogenic, but sometimes natural) push ecosystems to thresholds that cause collapse of process and function and may become permanent. Ecosystem resetting occurs when ep

SUBMITTER: Sidle RC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3677449 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature