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Landform - Structure, Evolution, Process Control pp 221–242Cite as

Resilience, Integrity and Ecosystem Dynamics: Bridging Ecosystem Theory and Management

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Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences ((LNEARTH,volume 115))

Abstract

In this paper different approaches to elucidate ecosystem dynamics are described, illustrated and interrelated. Ecosystem development is distinguished into two separate sequences, a complexifying phase which is characterized by orientor optimization and a destruction based phase which follows disturbances. The two developmental pathways are integrated in a modified illustration of the “adaptive cycle”. Based on these fundamentals, the recent definitions of resilience, adaptability and vulnerability are discussed and a modified comprehension is proposed. Thereafter, two case studies about wetland dynamics are presented to demonstrate both, the consequences of disturbance and the potential of ecosystem recovery. In both examples ecosystem integrity is used as a key indicator variable. Based on the presented results the relativity and the normative loading of resilience quantification is worked out. The paper ends with the suggestion that the features of adaptability could be used as an integrative guideline for the analysis of ecosystem dynamics and as a well-suited concept for ecosystem management.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    several technical terms from systems theory and resilience research are defined briefly in Box 1.

  2. 2.

    At least it is providing many answers, moving from 50 topical publications in 1992 to more than 250 in 2006 (Janssen 2007) and increasing the scientific and communicative complexity enormously. Thus the resilience concept is developing in a scientific version of orientor dynamics.

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Acknowledgments

The data presented in the two case studies have been measured and worked out by numerous colleagues from the Bornhöved-Project. We want to thank them for their collaboration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecosystem Research, Ecology Centre, University of Kiel, Olshausenstr. 75, 24118, Kiel, Germany

    Felix Müller

  2. Ecology Centre, University of Kiel, Olshausenstr. 75, 24118, Kiel, Germany

    Benjamin Burkhard & Franziska Kroll

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  1. Felix Müller
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  3. Franziska Kroll
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Correspondence to Felix Müller .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inst. Geographie, Universität Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, Salzburg, 5020, Austria

    Jan-Christoph Otto

  2. Geographische Institut, Universität Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 172, Bonn, 53115, Germany

    Richard Dikau

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Müller, F., Burkhard, B., Kroll, F. (2009). Resilience, Integrity and Ecosystem Dynamics: Bridging Ecosystem Theory and Management. In: Otto, JC., Dikau, R. (eds) Landform - Structure, Evolution, Process Control. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, vol 115. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-75761-0_14

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