Ecosystem collapse and recovery /
Newton, Adrian C.,author.
"There is a growing concern that many important ecosystems, such as coral reefs and tropical rain forests, might be at risk of sudden collapse as a result of human disturbance. At the same time, efforts to support the recovery of degraded ecosystems are increasing, through approaches such as ecological restoration and rewilding. Given the dependence of human livelihoods on the multiple benefits provided by ecosystems, there is an urgent need to understand the situations under which ecosystem collapse can occur and how ecosystem recovery can best be supported. To help develop this understanding, this volume provides the first scientific account of the ecological mechanisms associated with the collapse of ecosystems and their subsequent recovery. After providing an overview of relevant theory, the text evaluates these ideas in the light of available empirical evidence, by profiling case studies drawn from both contemporary and prehistoric ecosystems. Implications for conservation policy and practice are then examined"--
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Introduction -- 1.1 The IUCN Red List of Ecosystems -- 1.2 What Is an Ecosystem? -- 1.3 What is Ecosystem Collapse? -- 1.4 What is Ecosystem Recovery? -- 1.5 The Role of the Metaphor -- 1.6 Ecosytem Collapse: A Useful Focus? -- 1.7 Structure of the Book -- 2. Ecological Theory -- 2.1 What is Ecological Theory? -- 2.2 Disturbance Theory -- 2.3 Succession -- 2.4 State-and-Transition Models -- 2.5 Dynamical Systems Theory -- 2.6 Planetary Boundaries -- 2.7 Critical Loads -- 2.8 Food Webs, Ecological Networks and Extinction Cascades -- 2.9 Resilience and Recovery -- 2.10 Conclusions and Propositions -- 3. Case Studies from Prehistory -- 3.1 The "Big Five" Mass Extinctions -- 3.2 Extinction of Australian Megafauna -- 3.3 Megafauna Examples of Ecosystem Collapse -- 3.5 Evaluation of Propositions -- 4. Contemporary Case Studies -- 4.1 Coral Reefs -- 4.2 Marine Fisheries -- 4.3 Freshwater Ecosystems -- 4.4 Forests -- 4.5 Other Ecosystems -- 4.6 Evaluation of Propositions -- 5. Synthesis -- 5.1 Understanding Ecosystem Collapse and Recovery -- 5.2 Living with Ecosystem Collapse and Recovery -- 6. Conclusion -- 6.1 Answers -- 6.2 Summaries -- 6.3 Provocations -- 6.4 Coda.
"There is a growing concern that many important ecosystems, such as coral reefs and tropical rain forests, might be at risk of sudden collapse as a result of human disturbance. At the same time, efforts to support the recovery of degraded ecosystems are increasing, through approaches such as ecological restoration and rewilding. Given the dependence of human livelihoods on the multiple benefits provided by ecosystems, there is an urgent need to understand the situations under which ecosystem collapse can occur and how ecosystem recovery can best be supported. To help develop this understanding, this volume provides the first scientific account of the ecological mechanisms associated with the collapse of ecosystems and their subsequent recovery. After providing an overview of relevant theory, the text evaluates these ideas in the light of available empirical evidence, by profiling case studies drawn from both contemporary and prehistoric ecosystems. Implications for conservation policy and practice are then examined"--
Restoration ecology.
Ecosystem management.
Restoration ecology.
Ecological disturbances.
Ecosystem management.
Wildlife reintroduction.