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Early Warning Signals of Ecological Transitions: Methods for Spatial Patterns

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  • Sonia Kéfi
  • Vishwesha Guttal
  • William A Brock
  • Stephen R Carpenter
  • Aaron M Ellison
  • Valerie N Livina
  • David A Seekell
  • Marten Scheffer
  • Egbert H van Nes
  • Vasilis Dakos

Abstract

A number of ecosystems can exhibit abrupt shifts between alternative stable states. Because of their important ecological and economic consequences, recent research has focused on devising early warning signals for anticipating such abrupt ecological transitions. In particular, theoretical studies show that changes in spatial characteristics of the system could provide early warnings of approaching transitions. However, the empirical validation of these indicators lag behind their theoretical developments. Here, we summarize a range of currently available spatial early warning signals, suggest potential null models to interpret their trends, and apply them to three simulated spatial data sets of systems undergoing an abrupt transition. In addition to providing a step-by-step methodology for applying these signals to spatial data sets, we propose a statistical toolbox that may be used to help detect approaching transitions in a wide range of spatial data. We hope that our methodology together with the computer codes will stimulate the application and testing of spatial early warning signals on real spatial data.

Suggested Citation

  • Sonia Kéfi & Vishwesha Guttal & William A Brock & Stephen R Carpenter & Aaron M Ellison & Valerie N Livina & David A Seekell & Marten Scheffer & Egbert H van Nes & Vasilis Dakos, 2014. "Early Warning Signals of Ecological Transitions: Methods for Spatial Patterns," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(3), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0092097
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092097
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marten Scheffer & Steve Carpenter & Jonathan A. Foley & Carl Folke & Brian Walker, 2001. "Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems," Nature, Nature, vol. 413(6856), pages 591-596, October.
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    2. Tobias S Brett & Eamon B O’Dea & Éric Marty & Paige B Miller & Andrew W Park & John M Drake & Pejman Rohani, 2018. "Anticipating epidemic transitions with imperfect data," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Xiya Liang & Pengfei Li & Juanle Wang & Faith Ka Shun Chan & Chuluun Togtokh & Altansukh Ochir & Davaadorj Davaasuren, 2021. "Research Progress of Desertification and Its Prevention in Mongolia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    4. Baeza, Andres, 2018. "Modelling the critical transition from Chilean evergreen forest to savanna: Early warning signals and livestock management," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 388(C), pages 115-123.
    5. Ryan D Batt & Tarsha Eason & Ahjond Garmestani, 2019. "Time scale of resilience loss: Implications for managing critical transitions in water quality," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(10), pages 1-19, October.
    6. Bian, Junhao & Ma, Zhiqin & Wang, Chunping & Huang, Tao & Zeng, Chunhua, 2024. "Early warning for spatial ecological system: Fractal dimension and deep learning," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 633(C).
    7. Xue, Qiang & Liu, Chen & Li, Li & Sun, Gui-Quan & Wang, Zhen, 2021. "Interactions of diffusion and nonlocal delay give rise to vegetation patterns in semi-arid environments," Applied Mathematics and Computation, Elsevier, vol. 399(C).
    8. Mohammed, M.M.A. & Landi, P. & Minoarivelo, H.O. & Hui, C., 2018. "Frugivory and seed dispersal: Extended bi-stable persistence and reduced clustering of plants," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 380(C), pages 31-39.
    9. Acosta-Arreola, Jaime & Domínguez-Hüttinger, Elisa & Aguirre, Pablo & González, Nicolás & Meave, Jorge A., 2023. "Predicting dynamic trajectories of a protected plant community under contrasting conservation regimes: Insights from data-based modelling," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 484(C).
    10. Orozco-Fuentes, S. & Griffiths, G. & Holmes, M.J. & Ettelaie, R. & Smith, J. & Baggaley, A.W. & Parker, N.G., 2019. "Early warning signals in plant disease outbreaks," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 393(C), pages 12-19.

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