Tipping Points In Ecological Networks
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2019.0345
In simple economic models, the tipping point can be described as the point at which a lower expectation of success for a good will result in the good failing. If there is a higher expectation of success than the tipping point, the good will succeed. In more complex, nonlinear networks, such as in ecology, finding and manipulating the tipping point is much more difficult, but also more rewarding. Many ecological systems are reaching such a tipping point, such as the Atlantic Ocean circulation, species extinction, and the transition of shallow lakes from clear to cloudy waters.
The authors of this article had to take into account biological constraints, such as invasive species, geological factors, or other important factors in ecosystems. These factors can be monitored and manipulated to prevent irreparable damage to ecosystems. The solution chosen was to choose one target species to monitor while the environmental parameter increases. The study followed different mutualistic pollinator-plant networks, some with abundance management, and it was found that although management of pollinators does not always prevent a tipping point completely, it can slow the movement towards the tipping point, and in some cases can allow for species recovery. These models have significant implications for the future of ecological systems, and can potentially save certain species from extinction.