Catastrophic ecological transitions and management possibilities

Background/Question/Methods: Many ecological systems are profoundly affected by small changes in its biotic and/or abiotic components. These transitions are often catastrophic, and can drive the ecosystem to its collapse. This talk will focus on these catastrophic shifts, and what we can do to prevent them. By using a general model for these transitions, we will discuss the use of concepts from physics and mathematics to characterize catastrophic shifts and the phenomenology around them.

Results/Conclusions: Using the general model, we will explore mechanisms and ingredients that allow us to ameliorate the catastrophic character of the transition, in some cases enabling the transformation from a sudden to a progressive shift. We will discuss about the implications and management opportunities that such replacement offers, including potential early-warning signals. As a related example, we will talk about social insects and how their presence can alter desertification transitions.