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Updated: Dec 10, 2025
12:44
Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
8.3K
Network analysis can guide resilience-based management in forest landscapes under global change
Marco Mina1, Christian Messier1,2, Matthew Duveneck3,4
1Centre for Forest Research (CEF), Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, H3C 3P8, Quebec, Canada.
Summary
Global changes threaten forest resilience. This study combined ecological modeling and network analysis to show current forest management fails to prepare ecosystems for climate change and disturbances, necessitating adaptive strategies.
Area of Science:
- Forest Ecology
- Landscape Ecology
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Forests face significant shifts due to climate change and increased disturbances.
- Fragmented landscapes require a focus on diversity and connectivity for resilience.
- Novel management approaches are needed to enhance forest adaptability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze forest landscape resilience using a network approach under various global change scenarios.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of current management practices in maintaining forest resilience.
- To assess the impacts of climate change and disturbances on functional diversity and connectivity.
Main Methods:
- Coupled ecological dynamic modeling with functional traits analysis and network theory.
- Simulated future forest dynamics in a southern Quebec landscape.
- Assessed resilience using multi-scale indicators and network analysis.
Main Results:
- Climate change is projected to increase productivity and favor deciduous species.
- Disturbances negatively impact conifers and alter forest composition.
- Climate change reduced resilience indicators, functional diversity, and connectivity.
Conclusions:
- Current forest management strategies are insufficient for maintaining resilience to global change.
- A more active and adaptive management approach is crucial for forest ecosystems.
- Combining dynamic modeling with network analysis is valuable for assessing forest resilience.
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