Non‐linearity in ecosystem services: temporal and spatial variability in coastal protection

By E. Koch, Edward B. Barbier, B. Silliman, D. Reed, G. Perillo, S. Hacker, Elise F. Granek, J. Primavera, N. Muthiga, Stephen Polasky and 4 more. 2009

817 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Natural processes tend to vary over time and space, as well as between species. The ecosystem services these natural processes provide are therefore also highly variable. It is often assumed that ecosystem services are provided linearly (unvaryingly, at a steady rate), but natural processes are characterized by thresholds and limiting functions. In this paper, we describe the variability observed in wave attenuation provided by marshes, mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs and therefore also in coastal protection. We calculate the economic consequences of assuming coastal protection to be linear. We suggest that, in order to refine ecosystem-based management practices, it is essential that natural variability and cumulative effects be considered in the valuation of ecosystem services.

Subfields: Ecology, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/411a681f60611f61150a26834c836b3ae6c25aca

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Citations in the corpus

Mainstreaming Impact Evaluation in Nature Conservation (2016, background): “Furthermore, ecosystems are complex systems with non-linear dynamics at various spatial and temporal scales (Fisher et al. 2009; Koch et al. 2009).”
Benefit relevant indicators: Ecosystem services measures that link ecological and social outcomes (2018, neutral): “For example, marsh, reef, or mangrove habitat are all known to dampen incoming waves and, in so doing, protect coastal areas from erosion and inundation (Narayan et al., 2016; Koch et al., 2009).”
Twenty years of ecosystem services: How far have we come and how far do we still need to go? (2017, background): “Another key challenge is accurately measuring the functioning of the system to correctly quantify the amount of a given service derived from that system (Boumans et al., 2002; Barbier et al., 2008; Koch et al., 2009).”
A coupled model of submerged vegetation under oscillatory flow using Navier–Stokes equations (2013, background): “Among other factors their canopies contribute to dampen wave height and velocities (Fonseca and Cahalan, 1992; Koch, 2009; Mendez and Losada, 2004), reducing flow and turbulence (Nepf and Vivoni, 2000) and thereby promoting sedimentation and limiting sediment resuspension within the vegetation beds ”
Valuing Ecosystem Services for Coastal Wetland Protection and Restor ation : Progress and Challenges (2013, background): “Increasingly, the loss or change of vegetation in coastal ecosystems has affected these systems’ ability to protect against shore erosion, coastal flooding and storm events [9,10].”
Integrating Ecology and Economics in the Study of Ecosystem Services: Some Lessons Learned (2009, background): “For example, for ecosystem services such as storm protection along coastlines, Barbier et al. (2008) and Koch et al. (2009) examined the details of the pattern and amount of habitat, including temporal and spatial variation, to show why ecosystem service provision is unlikely to be linearly related…”
Evaluating tradeoffs among ecosystem services to inform marine spatial planning (2013, background): “4 relative to the delivery of others [14-17].”
Progress and Challenges in Valuing Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Services (2012, background): “Increasingly, the loss or change of vegetation in coastal ecosystems has affected these systems ability to protect against shore erosion, coastal flooding, and storm events (Alongi 2008; Koch et al. 2009).”
The Effectiveness, Costs and Coastal Protection Benefits of Natural and Nature-Based Defences (2016, background): “, [26] who demonstrate spatial and temporal variations in wave reduction capacities across habitats.”
Ecosystem service values for mangroves in Southeast Asia: A meta-analysis and value transfer applicatio (2012, background): “Explicit ecological modelling of the potential non-linearities in the provision of ecosystem services would, however, be preferable (Barbier et al., 2008; Koch et al., 2009).”
Securing ocean benefits for society in the face of climate change (2013, neutral): “, [33–43]).”
Seascape ecology of coastal biogenic habitats: advances, gaps, and challenges (2011, background): “Non-linearities occur in both seagrass patch growth—and thus seascape formation (Sintes et al. 2005)—and in physical processes (wave attenuation) in coastal habitats (Koch et al. 2009), but similar responses by animals inhabiting these systems have not been synthesized.”
Effects of ocean sprawl on ecological connectivity: impacts and solutions (2017, background): “Mangroves, salt marshes, shell ﬁ sh and coral reefs provide natural defence against storms and ﬂ ooding (e.g. Koch et al., 2009; Borsje et al., 2011; Gedan et al., 2011) and their restoration can be a desirable alternative to coastal engineering for stabilising shorelines and protecting coastal…”