Traditional harvest systems as models for advancing understanding of dynamics and resilience in socio‐ecological systems
Abstract Traditional harvest entails humans extracting and managing resources from intact, semi‐natural ecosystems. As such, it is inherently comprised of close interactions between humans and ecosystems and may provide unique insight into socio‐ecological systems. Traditional harvest is generally a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Ecosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70349 |
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| author | Sara Souther Diana Stuart Clare Aslan |
| author_facet | Sara Souther Diana Stuart Clare Aslan |
| author_sort | Sara Souther |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Traditional harvest entails humans extracting and managing resources from intact, semi‐natural ecosystems. As such, it is inherently comprised of close interactions between humans and ecosystems and may provide unique insight into socio‐ecological systems. Traditional harvest is generally accompanied by traditional resource management and directly influences ecological community dynamics, species reproduction and distribution, and competitive interactions. Meanwhile, ecological processes, seasonality, and natural disturbances influence human behaviors, decision making, activities, and well‐being. As a result of this tight coupling, traditional harvest systems have the potential to serve as important laboratories for the study of ecological community dynamics. Resilience science, in particular, may benefit from greater appreciation of traditional harvest, wherein thresholds and bidirectional feedbacks may be more easily detected and modeled than in more diffuse socio‐ecological systems. Additionally, because traditional harvest links to cultural heritage and traditional ecological knowledge, a greater understanding of these systems may facilitate efforts to support marginalized communities and social equity. We here discuss the value of traditional harvest research for science and society, highlighting as a case study the traditional harvest of Emory oak acorns by Western Apache Tribal Nations. We argue that traditional harvest systems carry important heuristic value but are often assumed to be rare or declining and are therefore relatively neglected by researchers, yet their persistence in modern agriculture‐dominated systems exemplifies resilience. As environmental change persists and natural systems near critical tipping points, understanding the role of humans in ecosystem resilience will be necessary to develop effective and sustainable management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b52f7fd290e2454fab4cfe3d0989f287 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-b52f7fd290e2454fab4cfe3d0989f2872025-08-20T03:09:19ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252025-07-01167n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.70349Traditional harvest systems as models for advancing understanding of dynamics and resilience in socio‐ecological systemsSara Souther0Diana Stuart1Clare Aslan2School of Earth and Sustainability Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Arizona USASchool of Earth and Sustainability Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Arizona USASchool of Earth and Sustainability Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Arizona USAAbstract Traditional harvest entails humans extracting and managing resources from intact, semi‐natural ecosystems. As such, it is inherently comprised of close interactions between humans and ecosystems and may provide unique insight into socio‐ecological systems. Traditional harvest is generally accompanied by traditional resource management and directly influences ecological community dynamics, species reproduction and distribution, and competitive interactions. Meanwhile, ecological processes, seasonality, and natural disturbances influence human behaviors, decision making, activities, and well‐being. As a result of this tight coupling, traditional harvest systems have the potential to serve as important laboratories for the study of ecological community dynamics. Resilience science, in particular, may benefit from greater appreciation of traditional harvest, wherein thresholds and bidirectional feedbacks may be more easily detected and modeled than in more diffuse socio‐ecological systems. Additionally, because traditional harvest links to cultural heritage and traditional ecological knowledge, a greater understanding of these systems may facilitate efforts to support marginalized communities and social equity. We here discuss the value of traditional harvest research for science and society, highlighting as a case study the traditional harvest of Emory oak acorns by Western Apache Tribal Nations. We argue that traditional harvest systems carry important heuristic value but are often assumed to be rare or declining and are therefore relatively neglected by researchers, yet their persistence in modern agriculture‐dominated systems exemplifies resilience. As environmental change persists and natural systems near critical tipping points, understanding the role of humans in ecosystem resilience will be necessary to develop effective and sustainable management.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70349coupled natural–human systemsculturally significant plantsecological assembly rulesecological range‐limit theoryEmory oakintermediate disturbance hypothesis |
| spellingShingle | Sara Souther Diana Stuart Clare Aslan Traditional harvest systems as models for advancing understanding of dynamics and resilience in socio‐ecological systems Ecosphere coupled natural–human systems culturally significant plants ecological assembly rules ecological range‐limit theory Emory oak intermediate disturbance hypothesis |
| title | Traditional harvest systems as models for advancing understanding of dynamics and resilience in socio‐ecological systems |
| title_full | Traditional harvest systems as models for advancing understanding of dynamics and resilience in socio‐ecological systems |
| title_fullStr | Traditional harvest systems as models for advancing understanding of dynamics and resilience in socio‐ecological systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Traditional harvest systems as models for advancing understanding of dynamics and resilience in socio‐ecological systems |
| title_short | Traditional harvest systems as models for advancing understanding of dynamics and resilience in socio‐ecological systems |
| title_sort | traditional harvest systems as models for advancing understanding of dynamics and resilience in socio ecological systems |
| topic | coupled natural–human systems culturally significant plants ecological assembly rules ecological range‐limit theory Emory oak intermediate disturbance hypothesis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70349 |
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