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Science 24 September 2004:
Vol. 305. no. 5692, pp. 1926 - 1929
DOI: 10.1126/science.1101867
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Review

Self-Organized Patchiness and Catastrophic Shifts in Ecosystems

Max Rietkerk,1* Stefan C. Dekker,1 Peter C. de Ruiter,1 Johan van de Koppel2

Unexpected sudden catastrophic shifts may occur in ecosystems, with concomitant losses or gains of ecological and economic resources. Such shifts have been theoretically attributed to positive feedback and bistability of ecosystem states. However, verifications and predictive power with respect to catastrophic responses to a changing environment are lacking for spatially extensive ecosystems. This situation impedes management and recovery strategies for such ecosystems. Here, we review recent studies on various ecosystems that link self-organized patchiness to catastrophic shifts between ecosystem states.

1 Department of Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80115, 3508 TC Utrecht, Netherlands.
2 Spatial Ecology Department, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, P.O. Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, Netherlands.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: m.rietkerk{at}geog.uu.nl

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)