Novel ecosystems in the Anthropocene: a revision of the novel ecosystem concept for pragmatic applications
Ecologists have developed terminology to distinguish ecosystems based on the degree of human alteration. To this end, ecosystems can be characterized as "novel ecosystems," "impacted ecosystems," or "designed ecosystems," depending on the role of human management in eco...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Resilience Alliance
2014-06-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Society |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol19/iss2/art12/ |
| _version_ | 1818343517010788352 |
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| author | Nathaniel B. Morse Paul A. Pellissier Elisabeth N. Cianciola Richard L. Brereton Marleigh M. Sullivan Nicholas K. Shonka Tessa B. Wheeler William H. McDowell |
| author_facet | Nathaniel B. Morse Paul A. Pellissier Elisabeth N. Cianciola Richard L. Brereton Marleigh M. Sullivan Nicholas K. Shonka Tessa B. Wheeler William H. McDowell |
| author_sort | Nathaniel B. Morse |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ecologists have developed terminology to distinguish ecosystems based on the degree of human alteration. To this end, ecosystems can be characterized as "novel ecosystems," "impacted ecosystems," or "designed ecosystems," depending on the role of human management in ecosystem development and effects on ecosystem properties. Properly classifying an ecosystem as novel, impacted, or designed has critical implications for its conservation and management, but a broadly applicable definition for a "novel ecosystem" does not exist. We have provided a formal definition of "novel ecosystem" that facilitates its use in practical applications and have described four characteristics of such an ecosystem. A novel ecosystem can be identified by its origins rooted in human agency, the ecological thresholds it has crossed, a significantly altered species composition, and a capacity to sustain itself. Ecosystem classification in the literature has been inconsistent. We have illustrated the application of our definition using multiple case studies representing impacted, designed, and novel ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T16:31:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fedb132e02024a16ac7e91548166bf29 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1708-3087 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T16:31:50Z |
| publishDate | 2014-06-01 |
| publisher | Resilience Alliance |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-fedb132e02024a16ac7e91548166bf292022-12-21T23:38:30ZengResilience AllianceEcology and Society1708-30872014-06-011921210.5751/ES-06192-1902126192Novel ecosystems in the Anthropocene: a revision of the novel ecosystem concept for pragmatic applicationsNathaniel B. Morse0Paul A. Pellissier1Elisabeth N. Cianciola2Richard L. Brereton3Marleigh M. Sullivan4Nicholas K. Shonka5Tessa B. Wheeler6William H. McDowell7Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New HampshireDepartment of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New HampshireDepartment of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New HampshireDepartment of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New HampshireDepartment of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New HampshireDepartment of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New HampshireDepartment of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New HampshireDepartment of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New HampshireEcologists have developed terminology to distinguish ecosystems based on the degree of human alteration. To this end, ecosystems can be characterized as "novel ecosystems," "impacted ecosystems," or "designed ecosystems," depending on the role of human management in ecosystem development and effects on ecosystem properties. Properly classifying an ecosystem as novel, impacted, or designed has critical implications for its conservation and management, but a broadly applicable definition for a "novel ecosystem" does not exist. We have provided a formal definition of "novel ecosystem" that facilitates its use in practical applications and have described four characteristics of such an ecosystem. A novel ecosystem can be identified by its origins rooted in human agency, the ecological thresholds it has crossed, a significantly altered species composition, and a capacity to sustain itself. Ecosystem classification in the literature has been inconsistent. We have illustrated the application of our definition using multiple case studies representing impacted, designed, and novel ecosystems.http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol19/iss2/art12/ecosystem managementnovel ecosystemresiliencerestorationthreshold |
| spellingShingle | Nathaniel B. Morse Paul A. Pellissier Elisabeth N. Cianciola Richard L. Brereton Marleigh M. Sullivan Nicholas K. Shonka Tessa B. Wheeler William H. McDowell Novel ecosystems in the Anthropocene: a revision of the novel ecosystem concept for pragmatic applications Ecology and Society ecosystem management novel ecosystem resilience restoration threshold |
| title | Novel ecosystems in the Anthropocene: a revision of the novel ecosystem concept for pragmatic applications |
| title_full | Novel ecosystems in the Anthropocene: a revision of the novel ecosystem concept for pragmatic applications |
| title_fullStr | Novel ecosystems in the Anthropocene: a revision of the novel ecosystem concept for pragmatic applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel ecosystems in the Anthropocene: a revision of the novel ecosystem concept for pragmatic applications |
| title_short | Novel ecosystems in the Anthropocene: a revision of the novel ecosystem concept for pragmatic applications |
| title_sort | novel ecosystems in the anthropocene a revision of the novel ecosystem concept for pragmatic applications |
| topic | ecosystem management novel ecosystem resilience restoration threshold |
| url | http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol19/iss2/art12/ |
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