The objective of this evidence map is to provide a collated summary of the existing body of literature addressing the effects of tipping points, with a specific focus on freshwater ecosystems, and was initiated to help support ecological management in Canadian freshwaters but was intentionally global in scope. We describe key characteristics of the evidence base, including the number of publications, the use of tipping points terminology in these publications, the study locations and designs, the habitats and aquatic taxa, the single and multiple anthropogenic drivers of tipping points, and the measured outcomes (at the population or community level) of tipping points. We build on previous research by including: (1) observational studies (in addition to experimental studies) and paleo-ecological evidence; (2) a more recent search that includes both grey and peer-reviewed literature that captures new evidence; and (3) a description of whether studies assess the reversibility of tipping points.
Project Collaborators
Steven J. Cooke – Carleton University, Canada
Trina Rytwinski – Carleton University, Canada
Ana Hernández Martínez de la Riva – Carleton University, Canada
Meagan Harper – Carleton University, Canada
Jessica Taylor – Carleton University, Canada
Joseph Bennett – Carleton University, Canada
Irena Creed – University of Toronto, Canada
John Smol – Queen’s University, Canada
Angeli Sahdra – Carleton University, Canada
Brittany Bard – University of Ottawa, Canada
Declan Burton – Carleton University, Canada
Laura Haniford – Carleton University, Canada
Dalal Hanna – Carleton University, Canada
Evaline Harmsen – Carleton University, Canada
Courtney Robichaud – Carleton University, Canada
Myra Thapar – Carleton University, Canada
Project status – Complete
CEIC contact – Trina.Rywinski@carleton.ca
Canadian Centre for Evidence-Informed Conservation 