No-analog (ecology)

In paleoecology and ecological forecasting, a no-analog[1] community or climate is one that is compositionally different from a (typically modern) baseline for measurement.[2][3] Alternative naming conventions to describe no-analog communities and climates may include novel, emerging, mosaic, disharmonious and intermingled.[3][4][5][6]

Modern climates, communities and ecosystems are often studied in an attempt to understand no-analogs that have happened in the past and those that may occur in the future.[3] This use of a modern analog to study the past draws on the concept of uniformitarianism. Along with the use of these modern analogs, actualistic studies and taphonomy are additional tools that are used in understanding no-analogs.[7] Statistical tools are also used to identify no-analogs and their baselines, often through the use of dissimilarity analyses or analog matching[8] Study of no-analog fossil remains are often carefully evaluated as to rule out mixing of fossils in an assemblage due to erosion, animal activity or other processes.[3]

  1. ^ Variants may omit the hyphen and/or use the British English analogue
  2. ^ Faith, J. Tyler; Lyman, R. Lee (February 2019). Fundamentals of Ecology and Biogeography. pp. 12–47. doi:10.1017/9781108648608.002. ISBN 9781108648608. S2CID 226863444. Retrieved 2020-04-03. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  3. ^ a b c d Williams, John W.; Jackson, Stephen T. (2007). "Novel climates, no-analog communities, and ecological surprises". Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 5 (9): 475–482. doi:10.1890/070037. ISSN 1540-9309.
  4. ^ Hobbs, Richard J.; Arico, Salvatore; Aronson, James; Baron, Jill S.; Bridgewater, Peter; Cramer, Viki A.; Epstein, Paul R.; Ewel, John J.; Klink, Carlos A.; Lugo, Ariel E.; Norton, David (January 2006). "Novel ecosystems: theoretical and management aspects of the new ecological world order". Global Ecology and Biogeography. 15 (1): 1–7. doi:10.1111/j.1466-822X.2006.00212.x. hdl:10019.1/117077. ISSN 1466-822X.
  5. ^ Milton, S.J. (2003). "'Emerging ecosystems'--a washing-stone for economists, ecologist and sociologists?". South African Journal of Science. 99 (9/10): 404–406.
  6. ^ Graham, R.W. (1986). Response of mammalian communities to environmental changes during the late quaternary. pp. 300–314.
  7. ^ Jackson, Stephen T.; Williams, John W. (2004-05-19). "MODERN ANALOGS IN QUATERNARY PALEOECOLOGY: Here Today, Gone Yesterday, Gone Tomorrow?". Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 32 (1): 495–537. Bibcode:2004AREPS..32..495J. doi:10.1146/annurev.earth.32.101802.120435. ISSN 0084-6597.
  8. ^ Simpson, Gavin L. "Analogue Methods in Paleoecology: using the analogue package" (PDF). CRAN.r project.