Regime shifts are large, abrupt, persistent changes in the structure and function of ecosystems, the climate, financial systems or other complex systems.[1][2][3][4] A regime is a characteristic behaviour of a system which is maintained by mutually reinforced processes or feedbacks. Regimes are considered persistent relative to the time period over which the shift occurs. The change of regimes, or the shift, usually occurs when a smooth change in an internal process (feedback) or a single disturbance (external shocks) triggers a completely different system behavior.[5][6][7][8] Although such non-linear changes have been widely studied in different disciplines ranging from atoms to climate dynamics,[9] regime shifts have gained importance in ecology because they can substantially affect the flow of ecosystem services that societies rely upon,[4][10] such as provision of food, clean water or climate regulation. Moreover, regime shift occurrence is expected to increase as human influence on the planet increases – the Anthropocene[11] – including current trends on human induced climate change and biodiversity loss.[12] When regime shifts are associated with a critical or bifurcation point, they may also be referred to as critical transitions.[3]
^Lewontin, R. (1969) Meaning of Stability. Brookhaven Sym Biol, 13
^Holling, C.S. (1973) Resilience and stability of ecological systems. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 4, 1–23
^ abScheffer, Marten (26 July 2009). Critical transitions in nature and society. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691122045.
^ abBiggs, R., et al. (2009) Turning back from the brink: Detecting an impending regime shift in time to avert it. P Natl Acad Sci Usa 106, 826–831
^Scheffer, M., et al. (2001) Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems. Nature 413, 591–596
^Scheffer, M., and Carpenter, S. (2003) Catastrophic regime shifts in ecosystems: linking theory to observation. Trends Ecol. Evol. 18, 648–656
^Folke, C., et al. (2004) Regime Shifts, Resilience, and Biodiversity in Ecosystem Management. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 35, 557–581
^Beisner, B., et al. (2003) Alternative stable states in ecology. Front. Ecol. Environ. 1, 376–382
^Feudel, U. (2008) Complex dynamics in multistable systems. Int J Bifurcat Chaos 18, 1607–1626
^Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) Ecosystems and human well-being: biodiversity synthesis. 87
^Steffen, W., et al. (2007) The Anthropocene: Are humans now overwhelming the great forces of nature. Ambio 36, 614–621
^Rockström, J., et al. (2009) A safe operating space for humanity. Nature 461, 472–475
Regimeshifts are large, abrupt, persistent changes in the structure and function of ecosystems, the climate, financial systems or other complex systems...
1977; the last two reversals corresponded with dramatic shifts in salmon production regimes in the North Pacific Ocean. This climate pattern also affects...
in response to early warning signals, before the tipping point to a regimeshift is crossed. Further, there is a substantial gap between the extent of...
and function and this process can be described as a shift to a new regime. Usually, a regimeshift is triggered by large-scale climate-induced variations...
A fire regime is the pattern, frequency, and intensity of the bushfires and wildfires that prevail in an area over long periods of time. It is an integral...
different regime of processes and structures predominates. When such thresholds are associated with a critical or bifurcation point, these regimeshifts may...
bleaching, where they are recolonized by zooxanthellae, or they experience a regimeshift, where previously flourishing coral reefs are taken over by thick layers...
bifurcation point. As such, they are a particular type of regimeshift. Recovery from such shifts may require more than a simple return to the conditions...
ecological succession to replace these extinct megafaunal species, and the regimeshift of previously established faunal relationships and habitats as a consequence...
present.: 321 The introduction of non-native species can cause substantial shifts in ecosystem function. Unlike external factors, internal factors in ecosystems...
catastrophic sea urchin overgrazing and its role in marine ecosystem regimeshifts. Their study underscores the urgent need for effective management and...
pressures caused by human activities or natural processes. Critical load, regimeshift, critical transition and tipping point are examples of other closely...
2005a: A brief overview of the regimeshift detection methods. link to PDF In: Large-Scale Disturbances (RegimeShifts) and Recovery in Aquatic Ecosystems:...
Bradshaw, Corey J. A.; Brook, Barry W. (March 2014). "An ecological regimeshift resulting from disrupted predator–prey interactions in Holocene Australia"...
a tipping point can trigger a regimeshift, a major systems reorganisation into a new stable state. Such regimeshifts need not be harmful. In the context...
bycatch. This increase is thought by researchers to reflect a faunal regimeshift as other commercially target species, like yellowfin and bigeye tuna...
Atlantic, followed by a subsequent decline to 2.9 in 1994. They report a shift away from long-lived, piscivorous, high-trophic-level bottom fishes, such...
state shift (sometimes termed a phase shift or regimeshift), when perturbed. Due to ecological feedbacks, ecosystems display resistance to state shifts and...
collapses without it. Similarly, an ecosystem may experience a dramatic shift if a keystone species is removed, even though that species was a small part...
conditions, for example the dandelion. Ecology portal Ontogenetic niche shift Marginal distribution (biology) Fitness landscape Niche differentiation...
"Language endangerment and revitalisation as elements of regimes of truth: shifting terminology to shift perspective" (PDF). Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural...
the adjacent community take over. As a result, the ecotone represents a shift in dominance. Ecotones are particularly significant for mobile animals,...
conserving or augmenting deer populations only a century ago, the focus has now shifted in the direct opposite, and ecologists are now more concerned with limiting...
(1995). "From Balance of Nature to Hierarchical Patch Dynamics: A Paradigm Shift in Ecology". The Quarterly Review of Biology. 70 (4): 439–466. doi:10.1086/419172...
are more specific habitat types with varying climate types, temperature regimes, soils, altitudes and vegetation. Many of these habitat types grade into...
Kuemmerle, Tobias; Waller, Donald M.; Radeloff, Volker C. (February 2013). "Regimeshift on the roof of the world: Alpine meadows converting to shrublands in...
Prime Minister was the Moderate Party leader, Fredrik Reinfeldt. The regimeshift that occurred in the 2006 election, however, can be traced to changes...
bioaccumulation in turtles, factors like pollution, climate change, and shifting landscape can affect the amounts of these toxins in the ecosystem. The...
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