Responding to Ecosystem Transformation: Resist, Accept, or Direct?

TLDR

Ecosystem transformation refers to the emergence of self‑organizing, self‑sustaining ecological or socio‑ecological systems that deviate from prior structure and function, and is occurring worldwide, making static management approaches inadequate. The authors propose a framework offering fish and wildlife managers three strategies—resist, accept, or direct—to address ecosystems vulnerable to transformation. The framework recommends choosing among resisting change, accepting it, or directing it based on anticipated future change, spatial and temporal scales, recent history, and magnitude, and suggests implementing these options through a structured learning and adapting approach.

Abstract

Abstract Ecosystem transformation can be defined as the emergence of a self-organizing, self-sustaining, ecological or social–ecological system that deviates from prior ecosystem structure and function. These transformations are occurring across the globe; consequently, a static view of ecosystem processes is likely no longer sufficient for managing fish, wildlife, and other species. We present a framework that encompasses three strategies for fish and wildlife managers dealing with ecosystems vulnerable to transformation. Specifically, managers can resist change and strive to maintain existing ecosystem composition, structure, and function; accept transformation when it is not feasible to resist change or when changes are deemed socially acceptable; or direct change to a future ecosystem configuration that would yield desirable outcomes. Choice of a particular option likely hinges on anticipating future change, while also acknowledging that temporal and spatial scales, recent history and current state of the system, and magnitude of change can factor into the decision. This suite of management strategies can be implemented using a structured approach of learning and adapting as ecosystems change.