CEES Friday seminar: Eluding catastrophic shifts

By Juan Bonachela from University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland

Abstract

Many ecological systems are profoundly affected by small changes in its biotic and/or abiotic components. These transitions are often catastrophic, and can drive the ecosystem to its collapse. Remarkable examples transcend ecology, and can be found in our everyday life (e.g. stock market crashes). This talk will focus on these catastrophic shifts, and what we can do to prevent them. By using a general model for these transitions, we will discuss on ways to characterize catastrophic shifts, the phenomenology around them, and how to differentiate them from smoother transitions. We will then discuss about mechanisms and ingredients that allow this general model to replace sudden with progressive shifts, and the implications and management opportunities that such replacement offers, including potential early-warning signals for ecosystem transitions.

Dr Juan Bonachela
Lecturer/assistant professor at the University of Strathclyde, in Glasgow, Scotland

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Published Feb. 22, 2016 1:23 PM - Last modified Feb. 23, 2016 11:19 AM