Novel ecosystems in the Anthropocene: a revision of the novel ecosystem concept for pragmatic applications

Nathaniel B. Morse, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire; Earth Systems Research Center, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space, University of New Hampshire
Paul A. Pellissier, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire; Earth Systems Research Center, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space, University of New Hampshire
Elisabeth N. Cianciola, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire
Richard L. Brereton, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire
Marleigh M. Sullivan, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire
Nicholas K. Shonka, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire
Tessa B. Wheeler, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire
William H. McDowell, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-06192-190212

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Abstract

Ecologists have developed terminology to distinguish ecosystems based on the degree of human alteration. To this end, ecosystems can be characterized as “novel ecosystems,” “impacted ecosystems,” or “designed ecosystems,” depending on the role of human management in ecosystem development and effects on ecosystem properties. Properly classifying an ecosystem as novel, impacted, or designed has critical implications for its conservation and management, but a broadly applicable definition for a “novel ecosystem” does not exist. We have provided a formal definition of “novel ecosystem” that facilitates its use in practical applications and have described four characteristics of such an ecosystem. A novel ecosystem can be identified by its origins rooted in human agency, the ecological thresholds it has crossed, a significantly altered species composition, and a capacity to sustain itself. Ecosystem classification in the literature has been inconsistent. We have illustrated the application of our definition using multiple case studies representing impacted, designed, and novel ecosystems.

Key words

ecosystem management; novel ecosystem; resilience; restoration; threshold

Copyright © 2014 by the author(s). Published here under license by The Resilience Alliance. This article is under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt the work for noncommercial purposes provided the original author and source are credited, you indicate whether any changes were made, and you include a link to the license.