Publikationsdatum:
2011-06-25
Beschreibung:
The importance of ecological management for reducing the vulnerability of biodiversity to climate change is increasingly recognized, yet frameworks to facilitate a structured approach to climate adaptation management are lacking. We developed a conceptual framework that can guide identification of climate change impacts and adaptive management options in a given region or biome. The framework focuses on potential points of early climate change impact, and organizes these along two main axes. First, it recognizes that climate change can act at a range of ecological scales. Secondly, it emphasizes that outcomes are dependent on two potentially interacting and countervailing forces: (1) changes to environmental parameters and ecological processes brought about by climate change, and (2) responses of component systems as determined by attributes of resistance and resilience. Through this structure, the framework draws together a broad range of ecological concepts, with a novel emphasis on attributes of resistance and resilience that can temper the response of species, ecosystems and landscapes to climate change. We applied the framework to the world’s largest remaining Mediterranean-climate woodland, the ‘Great Western Woodlands’ of south-western Australia. In this relatively intact region, maintaining inherent resistance and resilience by preventing anthropogenic degradation is of highest priority and lowest risk. Limited, higher risk options such as fire management, protection of refugia and translocation of adaptive genes may be justifiable under more extreme change, hence our capacity to predict the extent of change strongly impinges on such management decisions. These conclusions may contrast with similar analyses in degraded landscapes, where natural integrity is already compromised, and existing investment in restoration may facilitate experimentation with higher risk options. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-22 DOI 10.1007/s10584-011-0092-y Authors Suzanne M. Prober, CSIRO Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship and CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Private Bag 5, PO Wembley, WA 6913, Australia Kevin R. Thiele, Department of Environment and Conservation, Science Division, LMB 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Perth, WA 6983, Australia Philip W. Rundel, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Box 951405, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1405, USA Colin J. Yates, Department of Environment and Conservation, Science Division, LMB 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Perth, WA 6983, Australia Sandra L. Berry, Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 0200, Australia Margaret Byrne, Department of Environment and Conservation, Science Division, LMB 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Perth, WA 6983, Australia Les Christidis, National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia Carl R. Gosper, CSIRO Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship and CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Private Bag 5, PO Wembley, WA 6913, Australia Pauline F. Grierson, School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia Kristina Lemson, Centre for Ecosystem Management, School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia Tom Lyons, Centre of Excellence for Climate Change Woodland and Forest Health, School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University, South St, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia Craig Macfarlane, CSIRO Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship and CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Private Bag 5, PO Wembley, WA 6913, Australia Michael H. O’Connor, CSIRO Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship and CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Private Bag 5, PO Wembley, WA 6913, Australia John K. Scott, CSIRO Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship and CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Private Bag 5, PO Wembley, WA 6913, Australia Rachel J. Standish, School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia William D. Stock, Centre for Ecosystem Management, School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia Eddie J. B. van Etten, Centre for Ecosystem Management, School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia Grant W. Wardell-Johnson, Curtin Institute for Biodiversity and Climate, Curtin University, GPO BoxU1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia Alexander Watson, The Wilderness Society, City West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi Street, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia Journal Climatic Change Online ISSN 1573-1480 Print ISSN 0165-0009
Print ISSN:
0165-0009
Digitale ISSN:
1573-1480
Thema:
Geologie und Paläontologie
,
Physik
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