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Title:
Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems
Authors:
Scheffer, Marten; Carpenter, Steve; Foley, Jonathan A.; Folke, Carl; Walker, Brian
Affiliation:
AA(Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University, PO Box 8080, NL-6700 DD Wageningen, The Netherlands), AB(Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin, 680 North Park Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA), AC(Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE), Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin, 1225 West Dayton Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA), AD(Department of Systems Ecology and Centre for Research on Natural Resources and the Environment (CNM), Stockholm University, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden), AE(CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, GPO Box 284, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia)
Publication:
Nature, Volume 413, Issue 6856, pp. 591-596 (2001). (Nature Homepage)
Publication Date:
10/2001
Origin:
NATURE
DOI:
10.1038/35098000
Bibliographic Code:
2001Natur.413..591S

Abstract

All ecosystems are exposed to gradual changes in climate, nutrient loading, habitat fragmentation or biotic exploitation. Nature is usually assumed to respond to gradual change in a smooth way. However, studies on lakes, coral reefs, oceans, forests and arid lands have shown that smooth change can be interrupted by sudden drastic switches to a contrasting state. Although diverse events can trigger such shifts, recent studies show that a loss of resilience usually paves the way for a switch to an alternative state. This suggests that strategies for sustainable management of such ecosystems should focus on maintaining resilience.
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