Ecological Integrity of Hybrid Ecosystems in the Anthropocene: The Impact of Self-Organization on Function and...

The Anthropocene is defined by significant human-driven transformations of Earth's ecosystems, resulting in hybrid systems that merge natural self-organization with varying degrees of anthropogenic management. These hybrid ecosystems now dominate the terrestrial biosphere, playing a critical role in sustaining biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and human well-being. In this paper, we argue that self-organization, the spontaneous emergence of structure and function through local ecological interactions, is a fundamental driver of ecosystem resilience and integrity in hybrid systems. In this manuscript, we synthesize six core self-organization processes: spatial pattern formation, population self-regulation, ecological feedbacks, ecosystem engineering, functional food web organization, and functional redundancy, to show their role in underpinning key ecosystem functions across diverse anthrome categories. Using the anthrome framework, we demonstrate how self-organization operates within croplands, rangelands, village mosaics, forest-populated mosaics, and seminatural systems, emphasizing the ecological functions these processes support under varying land-use regimes. Finally, we propose a conceptual framework for assessing ecological integrity in hybrid ecosystems based on the identification of active self-organizing processes and the mapping of their functional contributions. This process-based approach offers a practical and scalable tool for monitoring ecosystem health and guiding adaptive management strategies in an era of escalating environmental change.