Ecological mechanisms underpinning climate adaptation services

Abstract

Ecosystem services are typically valued for their immediate material or cultural benefits to human wellbeing, supported by regulating and supporting services. Under climate change, with more frequent stresses and novel shocks, 'climate adaptation services', are defined as the benefits to people from increased social ability to respond to change, provided by the capability of ecosystems to moderate and adapt to climate change and variability. They broaden the ecosystem services framework to assist decision makers in planning for an uncertain future with new choices and options. We present a generic framework for operationalising the adaptation services concept. Four steps guide the identification of intrinsic ecological mechanisms that facilitate the maintenance and emergence of ecosystem services during periods of change, and so materialise as adaptation services. We applied this framework for four contrasted Australian ecosystems. Comparative analyses enabled by the operational framework suggest that adaptation services that emerge during trajectories of ecological change are supported by common mechanisms: vegetation structural diversity, the role of keystone species or functional groups, response diversity and landscape connectivity, which underpin the persistence of function and the reassembly of ecological communities under severe climate change and variability. Such understanding should guide ecosystem management towards adaptation planning.

Ecosystem services and biodiversity trends in Mozambique as a consequence of land cover change

“…Our findings call for the reinforcement of policies aimed at preserving biodiversity as it is positively connected to human well-being, and other functional services that provide ES Dallimer et al 2012;Lavorel et al 2015;Newbold et al 2015).…”

“…Biodiversity. Biodiversity is not considered an ES despite being associated with functional services that provide ES, such as soil fertility, pest control, pollination, water yield, and water quality Lavorel et al 2015;Newbold et al 2015). The InVEST habitat quality model uses information on land cover and threats to biodiversity to produce habitat quality maps (Tallis et al 2015).…”

Restoring dissolved organic carbon subsidies from floodplains to lowland river food webs: a role for environmental flows?

“…With appropriate incentives and governance arrangements, the benefits of these services can be realised by affected farmers. Furthermore, under increasing future water scarcity as a result of climate change, environmental flows represent a means for realising the benefits of adaptation services; the ecosystem processes and services that help people adapt to environmental change (Lavorel et al 2015). Ultimately, public acceptance of changing flooding regimes to promote environmental and socio-economic benefits will require a commitment of relevant government and non-government agencies to increasing community understanding of the benefits of floods.…”

Adaptation services and pathways for the management of temperate montane forests under transformational climate change

“…The linking of vegetation dynamics and supply of services to increased risk of wildfire allows managers to address questions such as: 'If montane forests in headwater catchments burn more frequently and intensely, what are the implications for water availability as an ecosystem service, and how will changes in runoff and water quality affect ecosystems downstream?' Adaptation services are the benefits ecosystems provide to people under climate variability and change, enabling flexibility of future options and development of adaptation pathways (Lavorel et al 2015). Benefits can accrue from an ecosystem being maintained in its current state or from new options created when an ecosystem transforms .…”

“…This approach requires: (1) characterising current ecosystems, their driver variables and ecosystem services; (2) predicting effects of climate change on ecosystem structure, function and supply of services; (3) identifying adaptation services related to ecosystem persistence or transformation and (4) scoping management options for adaptation services (Lavorel et al 2015).…”