In the paper they explain that in general, the issue is one of making sure empirical observations and theoretical models fit the right dynamical timescale for the system in question. Natural variability and seasonality can easily be misleading. It also seems to be the case on their argument that actual discontinuous regime shifts and alternative stable states are quite rare in reality for ecosystems.
I expect there'll be quite a lot of debate around this one as their argument hinges on quite a bit of statistical analysis that could be iffy, and regardless they mostly focus on eutrophication of lakes, which whilst an archetypal example may have underlying reasons for exhibiting continuous and linear responses that can look like nonlinear bifurcations, but that same issue may not be the case for other ecosystems.
If "threshold transgressions are rarely detectable", what does this mean for tipping poiints as a type of ecological threshold?
In the paper they explain that in general, the issue is one of making sure empirical observations and theoretical models fit the right dynamical timescale for the system in question. Natural variability and seasonality can easily be misleading. It also seems to be the case on their argument that actual discontinuous regime shifts and alternative stable states are quite rare in reality for ecosystems.
I expect there'll be quite a lot of debate around this one as their argument hinges on quite a bit of statistical analysis that could be iffy, and regardless they mostly focus on eutrophication of lakes, which whilst an archetypal example may have underlying reasons for exhibiting continuous and linear responses that can look like nonlinear bifurcations, but that same issue may not be the case for other ecosystems.