Adaptive Capacity in Social–Ecological Systems: a Framework for Addressing Bark Beetle Disturbances in Natural Resource Management
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Sustainability Science https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00736-2 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Adaptive capacity in social–ecological systems: a framework for addressing bark beetle disturbances in natural resource management Stuart Cottrell1 · Katherine M. Mattor2 · Jesse L. Morris3 · Christopher J. Fettig4 · Pavlina McGrady5 · Dorothy Maguire6 · Patrick M. A. James7,8 · Jennifer Clear9 · Zach Wurtzebach2 · Yu Wei2 · Andrea Brunelle3 · Jessica Western10 · Reed Maxwell11 · Marissa Rotar1 · Lisa Gallagher11 · Ryan Roberts1 Received: 5 March 2019 / Accepted: 24 September 2019 © Springer Japan KK, part of Springer Nature 2019 Abstract The ability of natural resource agencies to act before, during, and after outbreaks of conifer bark beetles (Coleoptera: Cur- culionidae) is important to ensure the continued provision of ecosystem services. Adaptive capacity refers to the capability of an agent or system to adapt to change, regardless of whether it is examined as an independent social or ecological entity, or as a coupled social–ecological system. Understanding the components of a disturbance and the associated efects to ecosystem services, social systems, and natural resource management increases the ability to adapt to change and ensure continued resilience. This paper presents a defnition and conceptual framework of adaptive capacity relevant to bark beetle disturbances that was developed through an interdisciplinary workshop held in 2016. The intent is to assist natural resource managers and policy-makers in identifying important adaptation characteristics to efectively address bark beetle disturbances. The current state of knowledge regarding institutional, social, and environmental factors that infuence adaptive capacity are identifed. The mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) in the western USA is used as a specifc example to discuss several factors that infuence adaptive capacity for increasing resilience. We hope that our proposed framework serves as a model for future collaborations among both social and physical scientists and land managers to better address landscape-level disturbances that are being exacerbated by climate change. Keywords Adaptation · Ecosystem services · Forest disturbance · Insect outbreaks · Resilience · Socio-ecological systems Handled by Graham Epstein, University of Waterloo Faculty of Environment, Canada. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00736-2 ) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Stuart Cottrell 6 USDA-ARS European Biological Control Laboratory, [email protected] Montpellier, France 7 Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de 1 Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Montréal, Montreal, Canada Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA 8 Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, 2 Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado Canada State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA 9 Department of Geography, Liverpool Hope University, 3 Department of Geography, University of Utah, Liverpool, UK Salt Lake City, UT, USA 10 Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, 4 Pacifc Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA Davis, CA, USA 11 Department of Geology and Geological Engineering 5 Division of Business, Communication, and Environmental and Integrated Ground Water Modeling Center, Colorado Science and Policy, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA OR, USA Vol.:(0123456789)1 3 Sustainability Science Introduction were identifed and used to construct this framework. The intent is to assist natural resource managers and policy- In forest ecosystems worldwide, climate change is makers in identifying important adaptation characteristics expected to amplify the frequency and severity of dis- to efectively address bark beetle disturbances within a turbance regimes (Seidl et al. 2017), which will further SES context. Mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus pon- challenge the readiness of natural resource management derosae, MPB) is used as an example of a focal stressor agencies, managers and stakeholder groups to prepare in this paper. We were motivated by previous work that for, respond to, and adapt to environmental change. For- identifed 25 research questions as priorities for academic est disturbances such as outbreaks of conifer bark beetles research and land management for bark beetles at a work- (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and other insects, wildfres, shop in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA in 2015 (see Morris and wind events tend to negatively afect the provision- et al. 2017, 2018). One question: “What actions can land ing of ecological goods and services (Boyd et al. 2013; managers, policymakers and stakeholders take to bolster Seidl et al. 2016). When coupled with increasing land-use the adaptive capacity of social–ecological systems to bark pressures, future environmental change will likely lead to beetle outbreaks?” (Morris et al. 2017, p. 752, Q12) was diminished capabilities of forest ecosystems to provide of particular relevance. Our work is timely because recent the critical ecosystem services on which human society bark beetle outbreaks have challenged longstanding com- depends (Lindner et al. 2010; Seidl et al. 2015). There- munity values and management paradigms, especially in fore, changes in forest dynamics that may result from regions that had not otherwise experienced a severe epi- the combined impacts of climate change and intensify- demic during recorded history (Morris et al. 2018; Fet- ing disturbance regimes present a signifcant challenge to tig 2019). In many instances, land management agencies, humankind (Chapin et al. 2009). In anticipation of these governance institutions, and the public and private sectors changes, research that quantifes the human dimensions were required to develop and/or augment approaches to of forest disturbances, both in terms of causes and conse- address, and in some cases suppress, outbreaks. For exam- quences, has become increasingly important in identify- ple, more frequent detection and survey techniques may be ing the mechanisms that promote positive and sustainable required to better assess the intensity, spatial extent, and social and ecological outcomes (Smit and Wandel 2006). synchrony of outbreaks (Bentz et al. 2010). Recent bark Science and policy discussions on ecosystem resilience beetle outbreaks in western North America and Europe to disturbance increasingly emphasize the role of adap- provide a critical opportunity to build a knowledge base tive capacity (AC) (Folke 2006; Kiparsky et al. 2012). In specifc to the adaptive strategies that were developed and a broad sense, AC refers to the capability of a system to implemented by afected communities through governance adapt to change, regardless of whether it is examined as institutions, including natural resource managers. an independent social or ecological entity, or as a cou- pled social–ecological system (SES). The concept of AC Bark beetle outbreaks has not been defned and conceptualized specifcally for bark beetle disturbances in a natural resource management Insects infuence forest ecosystem structure and function by context. Better characterization of AC is needed for the regulating certain aspects of primary production, nutrient natural resource management community, especially in the cycling, ecological succession, and the size, distribution and face of climate change (Nelson et al. 2015). To improve abundance of forest trees (Mattson and Addy 1975; Schow- understanding of the connections among bark beetle dis- alter 1981). Elevated insect activity reduces tree growth and turbances, ecosystem services, and management options hastens decline, mortality and subsequent replacement by for maintaining resilience, a framework is necessary to other tree species and plant associations. In particular, out- enhance the capability of a SES to respond to disturbance breaks of native bark beetles in North America and Europe and mitigate negative impacts to ecosystem services. In have produced striking changes to the structure, composi- this way, a greater degree of AC would foster enhanced tion, and function of forest ecosystems in recent decades forest ecosystem resistance and resilience (Engle 2011; (Fettig 2019; Marini et al. 2017). Many traits that infuence Marshall and Smajgl 2013; Smit and Wandel 2006). the success of bark beetles are temperature dependent, and This paper presents a defnition and conceptual frame- recent shifts in temperature (and precipitation) attributed to work of AC in bark beetle-prone forest systems, based on climate change have resulted in increases in voltinism (num- a literature review of 101 scientifc documents relevant to bers of generations per year), overwintering success and host bark beetle disturbances, developed through an interdis- drought stress causing increases in the severity of some bark ciplinary workshop held in 2016. Three main categories beetle outbreaks (Bentz et al. 2010; Kolb et al. 2016). For- of AC (environment, society, and ecosystem services) est densifcation has exacerbated the efect in many forests (Fettig et al. 2007). For example, a severe drought in the 1 3 Sustainability Science central and southern Sierra Nevada Mountains of Califor- and can also be spontaneous or planned (Fankhauser et al. nia, USA, during 2012–2015 incited outbreaks of a native 1999; Smit et al. 2000).