Created Ecosystems and the Concept of Succession

Abstract

Ecosystems whose structure and function do not resemble those found in nature are increasingly referred to as “novel” ecosystems. The term has come to refer to ecosystems that have been fundamentally changed or altered because of human activity. This article discusses current lines of inquiry surrounding novel ecosystems, highlights some definitional problems with the phrase, and discusses how the concept of succession fits into the definition. It examines the idea of human-made sites, considers these as the most deserving of the concepts behind novelty, and suggests that we refer to created ecosystems as the only truly novel ecosystems.