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

KOCH, E.W.; BARBIER, E.B; SILLIMAN, B.R.; REED, D.J.; PERILLO, G.M.E.; HACKER, S.D.; GRANEK, E.F.; PRIMAVERA, J.; MUTHIGA, N.; POLASKY, S.; HALPERN, B.S.; KENNEDY, C.J.; WOLANSKI, E.,; KAPPEL, C.V.; ASWANI, S.; CRAMER, L.A.; BAEL, D.; STOMS, D.M.

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment

Ecological Society of America

Lugar: Washington, DC; Año: 2009 vol. 7 p. 29 - 37

Non-linearity in the response of ecological variables (e.g., population growth) toenvironmental change is well recognized, but the associated change in ecosystemfunctions and services is typically assumed to be linear. This review illustrates theimportance of non-linearity in ecosystem functions to the valuation of ecosystem servicesand management of coastal systems. We focus on wave attenuation, the main ecosystemfunction responsible for the service of coastal protection, generated in marshes,mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs. We show that wave attenuation is not onlynonlinear over both space and time but that the pattern (e.g., points of inflexion,asymptotes) of these functional relationships varies among community types. We suggestthat dynamic modeling of ecological functions, greater field-based testing of thefunctional relationships between ecological condition and ecosystem services, and theeconomic valuation of those services will increase our accuracy in valuing coastalecosystems and, in turn, refine ecosystem-based management practices.