Combating ecosystem collapse from the tropics to the Antarctic

Dana M. Bergstrom; Barbara C. Wienecke; John van den Hoff; Lesley Hughes; David B. Lindenmayer; Tracy D. Ainsworth; Christopher M. Baker; Lucie Bland; David M. J. S. Bowman; Shaun T. Brooks; Josep G. Canadell; Andrew J. Constable; Katherine A. Dafforn; Michael H. Depledge; Catherine R. Dickson; Norman C. Duke; Kate J. Helmstedt; Andrés Holz; Craig R. Johnson; Melodie A. McGeoch; Jessica Melbourne-Thomas; Rachel Morgain; Emily Nicholson; Suzanne M. Prober; Ben Raymond; Euan G. Ritchie; Sharon A. Robinson; Katinka X. Ruthrof; Samantha A. Setterfield; Carla M. Sgrò; Jonathan S. Stark; Toby Travers; Rowan Trebilco; Delphi F. L. Ward; Glenda M. Wardle; Kristen J. Williams; Phillip J. Zylstra; Justine D. Shaw

doi:10.1111/gcb.15539

Combating ecosystem collapse from the tropics to the Antarctic

Dana M. Bergstrom^*, Barbara C. Wienecke, John van den Hoff, Lesley Hughes, David B. Lindenmayer, Tracy D. Ainsworth, Christopher M. Baker, Lucie Bland, David M. J. S. Bowman, Shaun T. Brooks, Josep G. Canadell, Andrew J. Constable, Katherine A. Dafforn, Michael H. Depledge, Catherine R. Dickson, Norman C. Duke, Kate J. Helmstedt, Andrés Holz, Craig R. Johnson, Melodie A. McGeochJessica Melbourne-Thomas, Rachel Morgain, Emily Nicholson, Suzanne M. Prober, Ben Raymond, Euan G. Ritchie, Sharon A. Robinson, Katinka X. Ruthrof, Samantha A. Setterfield, Carla M. Sgrò, Jonathan S. Stark, Toby Travers, Rowan Trebilco, Delphi F. L. Ward, Glenda M. Wardle, Kristen J. Williams, Phillip J. Zylstra, Justine D. Shaw

^*Corresponding author for this work

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) - Office

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Abstract

Globally, collapse of ecosystems—potentially irreversible change to ecosystem structure, composition and function—imperils biodiversity, human health and well-being. We examine the current state and recent trajectories of 19 ecosystems, spanning 58° of latitude across 7.7 M km², from Australia's coral reefs to terrestrial Antarctica. Pressures from global climate change and regional human impacts, occurring as chronic ‘presses’ and/or acute ‘pulses’, drive ecosystem collapse. Ecosystem responses to 5–17 pressures were categorised as four collapse profiles—abrupt, smooth, stepped and fluctuating. The manifestation of widespread ecosystem collapse is a stark warning of the necessity to take action. We present a three-step assessment and management framework (3As Pathway Awareness, Anticipation and Action) to aid strategic and effective mitigation to alleviate further degradation to help secure our future.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1692-1703
Number of pages	12
Journal	Global Change Biology
Volume	27
Issue number	9
Early online date	25 Feb 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15539
Publication status	Published - May 2021

Keywords

adaptive management
climate change
ecosystem collapse
human impacts
pressures

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10.1111/gcb.15539

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Bergstrom, D. M., Wienecke, B. C., van den Hoff, J., Hughes, L., Lindenmayer, D. B., Ainsworth, T. D., Baker, C. M., Bland, L., Bowman, D. M. J. S., Brooks, S. T., Canadell, J. G., Constable, A. J., Dafforn, K. A., Depledge, M. H., Dickson, C. R., Duke, N. C., Helmstedt, K. J., Holz, A., Johnson, C. R., ... Shaw, J. D. (2021). Combating ecosystem collapse from the tropics to the Antarctic. Global Change Biology, 27(9), 1692-1703. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15539

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title = "Combating ecosystem collapse from the tropics to the Antarctic",

abstract = "Globally, collapse of ecosystems—potentially irreversible change to ecosystem structure, composition and function—imperils biodiversity, human health and well-being. We examine the current state and recent trajectories of 19 ecosystems, spanning 58° of latitude across 7.7 M km2, from Australia's coral reefs to terrestrial Antarctica. Pressures from global climate change and regional human impacts, occurring as chronic {\textquoteleft}presses{\textquoteright} and/or acute {\textquoteleft}pulses{\textquoteright}, drive ecosystem collapse. Ecosystem responses to 5–17 pressures were categorised as four collapse profiles—abrupt, smooth, stepped and fluctuating. The manifestation of widespread ecosystem collapse is a stark warning of the necessity to take action. We present a three-step assessment and management framework (3As Pathway Awareness, Anticipation and Action) to aid strategic and effective mitigation to alleviate further degradation to help secure our future.",

keywords = "adaptive management, climate change, ecosystem collapse, human impacts, pressures",

author = "Bergstrom, {Dana M.} and Wienecke, {Barbara C.} and {van den Hoff}, John and Lesley Hughes and Lindenmayer, {David B.} and Ainsworth, {Tracy D.} and Baker, {Christopher M.} and Lucie Bland and Bowman, {David M. J. S.} and Brooks, {Shaun T.} and Canadell, {Josep G.} and Constable, {Andrew J.} and Dafforn, {Katherine A.} and Depledge, {Michael H.} and Dickson, {Catherine R.} and Duke, {Norman C.} and Helmstedt, {Kate J.} and Andr{\'e}s Holz and Johnson, {Craig R.} and McGeoch, {Melodie A.} and Jessica Melbourne-Thomas and Rachel Morgain and Emily Nicholson and Prober, {Suzanne M.} and Ben Raymond and Ritchie, {Euan G.} and Robinson, {Sharon A.} and Ruthrof, {Katinka X.} and Setterfield, {Samantha A.} and Sgr{\`o}, {Carla M.} and Stark, {Jonathan S.} and Toby Travers and Rowan Trebilco and Ward, {Delphi F. L.} and Wardle, {Glenda M.} and Williams, {Kristen J.} and Zylstra, {Phillip J.} and Shaw, {Justine D.}",

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month = may,

doi = "10.1111/gcb.15539",

language = "English",

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Bergstrom, DM, Wienecke, BC, van den Hoff, J, Hughes, L, Lindenmayer, DB, Ainsworth, TD, Baker, CM, Bland, L, Bowman, DMJS, Brooks, ST, Canadell, JG, Constable, AJ, Dafforn, KA, Depledge, MH, Dickson, CR, Duke, NC, Helmstedt, KJ, Holz, A, Johnson, CR, McGeoch, MA, Melbourne-Thomas, J, Morgain, R, Nicholson, E, Prober, SM, Raymond, B, Ritchie, EG, Robinson, SA, Ruthrof, KX, Setterfield, SA, Sgrò, CM, Stark, JS, Travers, T, Trebilco, R, Ward, DFL, Wardle, GM, Williams, KJ, Zylstra, PJ & Shaw, JD 2021, 'Combating ecosystem collapse from the tropics to the Antarctic', Global Change Biology, vol. 27, no. 9, pp. 1692-1703. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15539

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AU - Bergstrom, Dana M.

AU - Wienecke, Barbara C.

AU - van den Hoff, John

AU - Hughes, Lesley

AU - Lindenmayer, David B.

AU - Ainsworth, Tracy D.

AU - Baker, Christopher M.

AU - Bland, Lucie

AU - Bowman, David M. J. S.

AU - Brooks, Shaun T.

AU - Canadell, Josep G.

AU - Constable, Andrew J.

AU - Dafforn, Katherine A.

AU - Depledge, Michael H.

AU - Dickson, Catherine R.

AU - Duke, Norman C.

AU - Helmstedt, Kate J.

AU - Holz, Andrés

AU - Johnson, Craig R.

AU - McGeoch, Melodie A.

AU - Melbourne-Thomas, Jessica

AU - Morgain, Rachel

AU - Nicholson, Emily

AU - Prober, Suzanne M.

AU - Raymond, Ben

AU - Ritchie, Euan G.

AU - Robinson, Sharon A.

AU - Ruthrof, Katinka X.

AU - Setterfield, Samantha A.

AU - Sgrò, Carla M.

AU - Stark, Jonathan S.

AU - Travers, Toby

AU - Trebilco, Rowan

AU - Ward, Delphi F. L.

AU - Wardle, Glenda M.

AU - Williams, Kristen J.

AU - Zylstra, Phillip J.

AU - Shaw, Justine D.

PY - 2021/5

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N2 - Globally, collapse of ecosystems—potentially irreversible change to ecosystem structure, composition and function—imperils biodiversity, human health and well-being. We examine the current state and recent trajectories of 19 ecosystems, spanning 58° of latitude across 7.7 M km2, from Australia's coral reefs to terrestrial Antarctica. Pressures from global climate change and regional human impacts, occurring as chronic ‘presses’ and/or acute ‘pulses’, drive ecosystem collapse. Ecosystem responses to 5–17 pressures were categorised as four collapse profiles—abrupt, smooth, stepped and fluctuating. The manifestation of widespread ecosystem collapse is a stark warning of the necessity to take action. We present a three-step assessment and management framework (3As Pathway Awareness, Anticipation and Action) to aid strategic and effective mitigation to alleviate further degradation to help secure our future.

AB - Globally, collapse of ecosystems—potentially irreversible change to ecosystem structure, composition and function—imperils biodiversity, human health and well-being. We examine the current state and recent trajectories of 19 ecosystems, spanning 58° of latitude across 7.7 M km2, from Australia's coral reefs to terrestrial Antarctica. Pressures from global climate change and regional human impacts, occurring as chronic ‘presses’ and/or acute ‘pulses’, drive ecosystem collapse. Ecosystem responses to 5–17 pressures were categorised as four collapse profiles—abrupt, smooth, stepped and fluctuating. The manifestation of widespread ecosystem collapse is a stark warning of the necessity to take action. We present a three-step assessment and management framework (3As Pathway Awareness, Anticipation and Action) to aid strategic and effective mitigation to alleviate further degradation to help secure our future.

KW - adaptive management

KW - climate change

KW - ecosystem collapse

KW - human impacts

KW - pressures

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DO - 10.1111/gcb.15539

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SN - 1354-1013

VL - 27

SP - 1692

EP - 1703

JO - Global Change Biology

JF - Global Change Biology

IS - 9

ER -

Combating ecosystem collapse from the tropics to the Antarctic

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Keywords

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