About the Book
Land conversion, climate change and species invasions are contributing to the widespread emergence of novel ecosystems, which demand a shift in how we think about traditional approaches to conservation, restoration and environmental management. They are novel because they exist without historical precedents and are self-sustaining. Traditional approaches emphasizing native species and historical continuity are challenged by novel ecosystems that deliver critical ecosystems services or are simply immune to practical restorative efforts. Some fear that, by raising the issue of novel ecosystems, we are simply paving the way for a more laissez-faire attitude to conservation and restoration. Regardless of the range of views and perceptions about novel ecosystems, their existence is becoming ever more obvious and prevalent in today s rapidly changing world. In this first comprehensive volume to look at the ecological, social, cultural, ethical and policy dimensions of novel ecosystems, the authors argue these altered systems are overdue for careful analysis and that we need to figure out how to intervene in them responsibly.
This book brings together researchers from a range of disciplines together with practitioners and policy makers to explore the questions surrounding novel ecosystems. It includes chapters on key concepts and methodologies for deciding when and how to intervene in systems, as well as a rich collection of case studies and perspective pieces. It will be a valuable resource for researchers, managers and policy makers interested in the question of how humanity manages and restores ecosystems in a rapidly changing world. A companion website with additional resources is available at www.wiley.com/go/hobbs/ecosystems
Table of Contents:
Contributors, ix Acknowledgements, xi PART I INTRODUCTION, 1 1 Introduction: Why novel ecosystems?, 3 RICHARD J. HOBBS, ERIC S. HIGGS AND CAROL M. HALL PART II WHAT ARE NOVEL ECOSYSTEMS?, 9 2 Case Study: Hole-in-the-donut, everglades, 11 JOHN J. EWEL 3 Towards a conceptual framework for novel ecosystems, 16 LAUREN M. HALLETT, RACHEL J. STANDISH, KRISTIN B. HULVEY, MARK R. GARDENER, KATHARINE N. SUDING, BRIAN M. STARZOMSKI, STEPHEN D. MURPHY AND JAMES A. HARRIS 4 Islands: Where novelty is the norm, 29 JOHN J. EWEL, JOSEPH MASCARO, CHRISTOPH KUEFFER, ARIEL E. LUGO, LORI LACH AND MARK R. GARDENER 5 Origins of the novel ecosystems concept, 45 JOSEPH MASCARO, JAMES A. HARRIS, LORI LACH, ALLEN THOMPSON, MICHAEL P. PERRING, DAVID M. RICHARDSON AND ERLE C. ELLIS 6 Defining novel ecosystems, 58 RICHARD J. HOBBS, ERIC S. HIGGS AND CAROL M. HALL PART III WHAT WE KNOW (AND DON T KNOW) ABOUT NOVEL ECOSYSTEMS, 61 7 Perspective: Ecological novelty is not new, 63 STEPHEN T. JACKSON 8 The extent of novel ecosystems: Long in time and broad in space, 66 MICHAEL P. PERRING AND ERLE C. ELLIS 9 Case study: Geographic distribution and level of novelty of Puerto Rican Forests, 81 SEBASTIAN MARTINUZZI, ARIEL E. LUGO, THOMAS J. BRANDEIS AND EILEEN H. HELMER 10 Novel ecosystems and climate change, 88 BRIAN M. STARZOMSKI 11 Plant invasions as builders and shapers of novel ecosystems, 102 DAVID M. RICHARDSON AND MIRIJAM GAERTNER 12 Infectious disease and novel ecosystems, 114 LAITH YAKOB Infectious disease and the novel Caribbean coral reef, 118 LAITH YAKOB AND PETER J. MUMBY 13 Case study: Do feedbacks from the soil biota secure novelty in ecosystems?, 124 JAMES A. HARRIS 14 Fauna and novel ecosystems, 127 PATRICIA L. KENNEDY, LORI LACH, ARIEL E. LUGO AND RICHARD J. HOBBS 15 Case study: Ecosystem transformations along the Colorado Front Range: Prairie dog interactions with multiple components of global environmental change, 142 TIMOTHY R. SEASTEDT, LAUREL M. HARTLEY AND JESSE B. NIPPERT 16 Perspective: Plus ca change, plus c est la meme chose, 150 STEPHEN D. MURPHY PART IV WHEN AND HOW TO INTERVENE, 153 17 Perspective: From rivets to rivers, 155 JOSEPH MASCARO 18 Incorporating novel ecosystems into management frameworks, 157 KRISTIN B. HULVEY, RACHEL J. STANDISH, LAUREN M. HALLETT, BRIAN M. STARZOMSKI, STEPHEN D. MURPHY, CARA R. NELSON, MARK R. GARDENER, PATRICIA L. KENNEDY, TIMOTHY R. SEASTEDT AND KATHARINE N. SUDING 19 The management framework in practice making decisions in AtlanticCanadian Meadows: Chasing the elusive reference state, 172 STEPHEN D. MURPHY 20 The management framework in practice prairie dogs at the urban interface: Conservation solutions when ecosystem change drivers are beyond the scope of management actions, 176 TIMOTHY R. SEASTEDT 21 The management framework in practice how social barriers contribute to novel ecosystem maintenance: Managing reindeer populations on St George Island, Pribilof Islands, Alaska, 180 KRISTIN B. HULVEY 22 The management framework in practice can t see the wood for the trees: The changing management of the novel Miconia Cinchona ecosystem in the humid highlands of Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, 185 MARK R. GARDENER 23 The management framework in practice designer wetlands as novel ecosystems, 189 STEPHEN D. MURPHY 24 Characterizing novel ecosystems: Challenges for measurement, 192 JAMES A. HARRIS, STEPHEN D. MURPHY, CARA R. NELSON, MICHAEL P. PERRING AND PEDRO M. TOGNETTI 25 Case study: Novelty measurement in pampean grasslands, 205 PEDRO M. TOGNETTI 26 Plant materials for novel ecosystems, 212 THOMAS A. JONES 27 Case study: Management of novel ecosystems in the Seychelles, 228 CHRISTOPH KUEFFER, KATY BEAVER AND JAMES MOUGAL 28 Perspective: Moving to the dark side, 239 PATRICIA L. KENNEDY PART V HOW DO WE APPRECIATE NOVEL ECOSYSTEMS?, 243 29 Perspective: Coming of age in a trash forest, 245 EMMA MARRIS 30 Engaging the public in novel ecosystems, 247 LAURIE YUNG, STEVE SCHWARZE, WYLIE CARR, F. STUART CHAPIN III AND EMMA MARRIS 31 Valuing novel ecosystems, 257 ANDREW LIGHT, ALLEN THOMPSON AND ERIC S. HIGGS 32 Case study: A rocky novel ecosystem: Industrial origins to conservation concern, 269 MICHAEL P. PERRING 33 The policy context: Building laws and rules that embrace novelty, 272 PETER BRIDGEWATER AND LAURIE YUNG 34 Perspective: Lake Burley Griffin, 284 PETER BRIDGEWATER 35 Case study: Shale bings in central Scotland: From ugly blots on the landscape to cultural and biological heritage, 286 BARBRA A. HARVIE AND RICHARD J. HOBBS PART VI WHAT S NEXT?, 291 36 Perspective: A tale of two natures, 293 ERIC S. HIGGS 37 Concerns about novel ecosystems, 296 RACHEL J. STANDISH, ALLEN THOMPSON, ERIC S. HIGGS AND STEPHEN D. MURPHY 38 Novel urban ecosystems and ecosystem services, 310 MICHAEL P. PERRING, PETE MANNING, RICHARD J. HOBBS, ARIEL E. LUGO, CRISTINA E. RAMALHO AND RACHEL J. STANDISH 39 Ecosystem stewardship as a framework for conservation in a directionally changing world, 326 TIMOTHY R. SEASTEDT, KATHARINE N. SUDING AND F. STUART CHAPIN III 40 Case study: Novel socio-ecological systems in the North: Potential pathways toward ecological and societal resilience, 334 F. STUART CHAPIN III, MARTIN D. ROBARDS, JILL F. JOHNSTONE, TREVOR C. LANTZ AND STEVEN V. KOKELJ 41 Perspective: Is Everything a novel ecosystem? If so, do we need the concept?, 345 EMMA MARRIS, JOSEPH MASCARO AND ERLE C. ELLIS PART VII SYNTHESIS AND CONCLUSIONS, 351 42 What do we know about, and what do we do about, novel ecosystems?, 353 RICHARD J. HOBBS, ERIC S. HIGGS AND CAROL M. HALL Index, 361
About the Author :
Richard J. Hobbs is Professor of Restoration Ecology and Australian Laureate Fellow at the University of Western Australia, where he leads the Ecosystem Restoration and Intervention Ecology Research Group. His current research focuses on pulling together different disciplines including restoration ecology, conservation biology and landscape ecology to develop a more effective ecology for the 21st century. Eric S. Higgs is Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria (Canada), and director of the Mountain Legacy research project. Author of Nature by Design: People, Natural Process and Ecological Restoration, he focuses on advancing principles and practice of ecological restoration in a rapidly changing world. Carol Hall has worked on community conservation issues in North America and Africa during the past 15 years. She is a co-author of the World Commission on Protected Areas Ecological Restoration for Protected Areas: Principles, guidelines and best practices (in press, Gland, Switzerland: IUCN), and currently Program Director for the Restoration Institute, University of Victoria.
Review :
The convergence of popular and technical literature reinforces the impression that a paradigm shift in conservation/restoration is underway. Novel Ecosystems provides an entry to this novel world view. (Ecological Management & Restoration, 17 September 2014) Overall, this is a timely book that thoroughly addresses a critical issue in the management of ecosystems in a dynamically changing world. Its strength lies in its treatment of decision making processes and its real?]world illustrations through case studies. (Frontiers of Biogeography, 1 November 2013) In conclusion, I recommend this book to all researchers and practitioners working on man-made ecosystems. (Basic and Applied Ecology, 1 October 2013) If this dialogue takes place, with the inclusion of classic, traditional, and orthodox restoration ecology, at least with regards historical knowledge (a paradigm change rather than a paradigm shift), as well as the issues concerning novel ecosystems, then this provocative book will remain an interesting and stimulating standard work for a long time. (Restoration Ecology, 1 July 2013) Summing Up: Recommended. All academic and professional audiences. (Choice, 1 October 2013) Although the authors new terminology does not seem a step forward, Novel Ecosystemsprovides relevant and stimulating ideas for discussion and integration into conservation and restoration methods, strategies, and goals. (Science, 2 August 2013)
