Land management in the American southwest: a state-and-transition approach to ecosystem complexity

Environmental Management
Brandon T BestelmeyerKris M Havstad

Abstract

State-and-transition models are increasingly being used to guide rangeland management. These models provide a relatively simple, management-oriented way to classify land condition (state) and to describe the factors that might cause a shift to another state (a transition). There are many formulations of state-and-transition models in the literature. The version we endorse does not adhere to any particular generalities about ecosystem dynamics, but it includes consideration of several kinds of dynamics and management response to them. In contrast to previous uses of state-and-transition models, we propose that models can, at present, be most effectively used to specify and qualitatively compare the relative benefits and potential risks of different management actions (e.g., fire and grazing) and other factors (e.g., invasive species and climate change) on specified areas of land. High spatial and temporal variability and complex interactions preclude the meaningful use of general quantitative models. Forecasts can be made on a case-by-case basis by interpreting qualitative and quantitative indicators, historical data, and spatially structured monitoring data based on conceptual models. We illustrate how science- based conceptual...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 4, 2006·Environmental Management·Tara A ForbisGary Medlyn
Sep 23, 2006·Environmental Management·Peter G Spooner, Kimberly G Allcock
Feb 4, 2010·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·John A Wiens, Dominique Bachelet
Aug 24, 2013·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Rebecca E LesterRebecca A Quin
May 12, 2009·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Raphael Contamin, Aaron M Ellison
May 23, 2012·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Sumanta BagchiMaria E Fernández-Giménez
Apr 30, 2015·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Patrick J ComerMark L Shaffer
May 9, 2006·Ecology·Brandon T BestelmeyerKris M Havstad
Feb 17, 2017·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·T J MasonA D Letten
Mar 25, 2017·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Hannah FraserBrendan A Wintle
Nov 26, 2015·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Michael D CraigRichard J Hobbs
Nov 22, 2020·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Stephen E FickMichael C Duniway
Jun 20, 2017··Jesus G. RosalesAndreas Gross

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