Authors:
Franklin, J.F. and K.N. Johnson
Publication Date:
2011
Abstract/Summary:
This paper describe the concept of regime shifts in forest landscapes that represent landscape traps in that “entire landscapes are shifted into a state in which major functional and ecological attributes are compromised [and] lead to feedback processes that either maintain an ecosystem in a compromised state or push it into a further regime shift in which an entirely new type of vegetation cover develops.” Such state changes can result in dramatic reductions in functionality (e.g., carbon sequestration, water yields) and biodiversity, as with their primary example of mountain ash forests (Eucalyptus regnans) in southeastern Australia.
Resource Type:
Peer-reviewed Article
Source:
PNAS