1. The Basics of Complex Adaptive Systems Theory

2. New Reality Climate variability - change in average,
variation, and/or extreme values

3. New Reality Novel ecosystems will be increasingly common
Creation of novel ecosystems via biotic or abiotic change (modified from Suding et al. 2004). A natural ecosystem is collapsed into the range of values found in zone A. (a) An ecosystem is altered by directional environmental drivers (AB) or the addition or loss of an important species (AC). (b) Once in the new state (either B or C), internal restructuring due to new biotic and abiotic interactions further alters community composition through changes in
abundances or species losses, and through changes in biogeochemical interactions.
Seastedt et al. 2008, Frontiers in Ecology,
Novel ecosystems will be increasingly common

4. Complexity management objective
“Complexity” management approach
Management objective C
Complexity management objective A
Ecosystem characteristics
Increase ecosystem resilience and adaptability, and promote desirable outcomes B
Management objective
Time
Silvicultural interventions
Modified from Puettmann et al.

5. Ecosystems are Complex Adaptive Systems, making them resilient
Interactions
Bottom-up
Self-organization
Emergence
Feedbacks
Adaptive
Initial conditions
Memory
Open to outside
Fuzzy boundaries
Non-equilibrium
Non-linear
Tipping points
Stable System
Connection begets complexity and resilience

6. Neither rigid or chaotic, complex systems are integrated and resilient

8. Ecosystems are “Complex Adaptive Systems”
A system with many parts
The parts interact (inter-dependent, feedbacks)
Emergence or synergy
The whole is greater than the sum of the parts (interactions give rise to emergent properties).
Bottom-up self-organization
Adaptive, Evolving
System memory
Fuzzy, open boundaries
Feedback loops, cross scales
Non-linear, sometimes chaotic
Indeterminate, unpredictable
Self-organization
Emergent properties
System memory
Non-equilibrium, open to outside
Fuzzy boundaries
Adaptive

9. Feedbacks are the key to self-organization of terrestrial ecosystems
Ehrenfeld et al. (2005)

11. Characteristics of Complex Adaptive Systems
Unpredictable: because interactions non-linear
Contagion: easy spread due to interconnection
Modularity: some parts more intra-connected than inter-connected (e.g., above- and belowground foodwebs)
Redundancy
Resilient

12. Complex Adaptive Systems
Traditional Science
Focus on parts
Top-down
Deterministic
Reductionist
Disciplinary
Linear
Prediction
Complex Systems Science
Interactions
Bottom-up
Self-organization
Holistic
Interdisciplinary
Non-linear
Surprises

13. Forest ecosystems: cross-scale interactions and emergence of self-organization
Forest structure is emergent property

14. Neural networks underpin the brain as a complex adaptive system
“mindful practice”
“use it or lose it”
Neural networks underpin the brain as a complex adaptive system
“neurons that wire together, fire together”

15. Forest Dynamics Equilibrium view Complexity view
Time
succession
disturbance
Essentially one pathway to stability
Disturbance seen as an aberration

16. Because of complexity, ecosystems are wired for healing, to a point

17. Insight 18: Resilience is the birthplace of powerful hope and creativity