Ecological change on California's Channel Islands from the Pleistocene to the Anthropocene

Torben C. Rick; T. Scott Sillett; Cameron K. Ghalambor; Courtney A. Hofman; Katherine Ralls; R. Scott Anderson; Christina L. Boser; Todd J. Braje; Daniel R. Cayan; R. Terry Chesser; Paul W. Collins; Jon M. Erlandson; Kate R. Faulkner; Robert C. Fleischer; W. Chris Funk; Russell Galipeau; Ann Huston; Julie King; Lyndal L. Laughrin; Jesus Maldonado; Kathryn McEachern; Daniel R. Muhs; Seth D. Newsome; Leslie Reeder-Myers; Christopher Still; Scott A. Morrison

doi:10.1093/biosci/biu094

Ecological change on California's Channel Islands from the Pleistocene to the Anthropocene

BioScience

By: Torben C. Rick, T. Scott Sillett, Cameron K. Ghalambor, Courtney A. Hofman, Katherine Ralls, R. Scott Anderson, Christina L. Boser, Todd J. Braje, Daniel R. Cayan, R. Terry Chesser, Paul W. Collins, Jon M. Erlandson, Kate R. Faulkner, Robert C. Fleischer, W. Chris Funk, Russell Galipeau, Ann Huston, Julie King, Lyndal L. Laughrin, Jesus Maldonado, Kathryn McEachern, Daniel R. Muhs, Seth D. Newsome, Leslie Reeder-Myers, Christopher Still, and Scott A. Morrison

https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biu094

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Abstract

Historical ecology is becoming an important focus in conservation biology and offers a promising tool to help guide ecosystem management. Here, we integrate data from multiple disciplines to illuminate the past, present, and future of biodiversity on California's Channel Islands, an archipelago that has undergone a wide range of land-use and ecological changes. Our analysis spans approximately 20,000 years, from before human occupation and through Native American hunter–gatherers, commercial ranchers and fishers, the US military, and other land managers. We demonstrate how long-term, interdisciplinary research provides insight into conservation decisions, such as setting ecosystem restoration goals, preserving rare and endemic taxa, and reducing the impacts of climate change on natural and cultural resources. We illustrate the importance of historical perspectives for understanding modern patterns and ecological change and present an approach that can be applied generally in conservation management planning.

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Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Ecological change on California's Channel Islands from the Pleistocene to the Anthropocene
Series title	BioScience
DOI	10.1093/biosci/biu094
Year Published	2014
Language	English
Publisher	American Institute of Biological Sciences
Contributing office(s)	Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Country	United States
State	California
Other Geospatial	Channel Islands
Online Only (Y/N)	N
Additional Online Files (Y/N)	N
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page