Use of the historic range of variability to evaluate ecosystem sustainability [Chapter 24]

Carolyn B. Meyer; Dennis H. Knight; Greg Dillon

Treesearch

Use of the historic range of variability to evaluate ecosystem sustainability [Chapter 24]

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Carolyn B. Meyer, Dennis H. Knight, Greg Dillon

Year:

2010

Type:

Book Chapter

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

In: Reck, Ruth A. ed. Climate Change and Sustainable Development. Urbana, IL: Linton Atlantic Books, Ltd. p. 251-261.

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Abstract

Ecosystems are not static, having evolved with disturbances such as fire, windstorms, floods, disease, and animal activity. The natural variability imposed by such disturbances must be included when defining sustainability goals. One approach is to target the historic range of variability (HRV), determining if current management maintains the ecosystem within its HRV. Tree cores; stand age; stable isotopes; ancient packrat middens; museum collections; and sediment records of charcoal, pollen, testate amoebae, or animal hair can provide data for reconstructing the HRV.

Keywords

historic range of variability (HRV), ecosystem sustainability

Citation

Meyer, Carolyn B.; Knight, Dennis H.; Dillon, Greg K. 2010. Use of the historic range of variability to evaluate ecosystem sustainability [Chapter 24]. In: Reck, Ruth A. ed. Climate Change and Sustainable Development. Urbana, IL: Linton Atlantic Books, Ltd. p. 251-261.