title: What is Novel About Novel Ecosystems: Managing Change in an Ever-Changing World.
abstract: Influenced by natural climatic, geological, and evolutionary changes, landscapes and the ecosystems within are continuously changing. In addition to these natural pressures, anthropogenic drivers have increasingly influenced ecosystems. Whether affected by natural or anthropogenic processes, ecosystems, ecological communities, and ecosystem functioning are dynamic and can lead to "novel" or "emerging" ecosystems. Current literature identifies several definitions of these ecosystems but lacks an unambiguous definition and framework for categorizing what constitutes a novel ecosystem and for informing decisions around best management practices. Here we explore the various definitions used for novel ecosystems, present an unambiguous definition, and propose a framework for identifying the most appropriate management option. We identify and discuss three approaches for managing novel ecosystems: managing against, tolerating, and managing for these systems, and we provide real-world examples of each approach. We suggest that this framework will allow managers to make thoughtful decisions about which strategy is most appropriate for each unique situation, to determine whether the strategy is working, and to facilitate decision-making when it is time to modify the management approach.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Science and Management, Portland State University, 1719 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR, 97201, USA, amtruitt@pdx.edu.
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Truitt
authors.forename: Elise F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Granek
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Duveneck
authors.forename: Kaitlin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.forename: Meredith P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: Kimberly C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Yazzie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D057231:Climate Change; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D006801:Humans
references.citation: Annu Rev Phytopathol. 1997;35:87-109
references.pmid: 15012516
references.citation: Trends Ecol Evol. 2009 Sep;24(9):497-504
references.pmid: 19577817
references.citation: Phytopathology. 2003 Aug;93(8):1044-7
references.pmid: 18943874
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Apr 3;104(14):5738-42
references.pmid: 17389402
references.citation: Trends Ecol Evol. 2009 Nov;24(11):599-605
references.pmid: 19683830
references.citation: Science. 2008 Sep 12;321(5895):1443
references.pmid: 18787149
references.citation: Trends Ecol Evol. 2010 Oct;25(10):574-82
references.pmid: 20656371
references.citation: Science. 2001 Apr 27;292(5517):673-9
references.pmid: 11326089
references.citation: Trends Ecol Evol. 2014 Oct;29(10):548-53
references.pmid: 25088744
references.citation: Trends Ecol Evol. 2013 Aug;28(8):462-8
references.pmid: 23375444
references.citation: Dis Aquat Organ. 2007 Oct 15;77(3):207-23
references.pmid: 18062472
references.citation: Trends Ecol Evol. 1995 Oct;10(10):430
references.pmid: 21237093
references.citation: Trends Ecol Evol. 2011 Jul;26(7):333-9
references.pmid: 21601306
references.citation: Trends Ecol Evol. 2010 Oct;25(10):583-91
references.pmid: 20800315
references.citation: Environ Manage. 2007 Jul;40(1):105-12
references.pmid: 17530329
references.citation: Conserv Biol. 2012 Dec;26(6):1153-5
references.pmid: 23083005
references.citation: Ecol Appl. 2015 Sep;25(6):1653-68
references.pmid: 26552272
references.citation: Ecol Appl. 2010 Mar;20(2):327-46
references.pmid: 20405791
references.citation: Ecol Appl. 2011 Jul;21(5):1591-603
references.pmid: 21830704
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Jun 16;106(24):9721-4
references.pmid: 19509337
references.citation: Ann Rev Mar Sci. 2012;4:11-37
references.pmid: 22457967
references.citation: Science. 2011 Dec 16;334(6062):1545-8
references.pmid: 22174250