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Journal of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences ›› 2026, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (1): 1-13.DOI: 10.7523/j.ucas.2025.043

• Review Article •     Next Articles

Advances in ecosystem regime shifts and tipping mechanisms: a comprehensive review

Yanbin HAO1,2, Mingzi WU2, Fuqi WEN2, Xin WANG3, Tong ZHAO3, Jie LIU4, Yanfen WANG1,5()   

  1. 1.Beijing Yanshan Earth Critical Zone National Research Station,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 101408,China
    2.College of Life Sciences,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 101408,China
    3.School of Mathematical Sciences,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 101408,China
    4.School of Engineering Science,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 101408,China
    5.College of Resources and Environment,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 101408,China
  • Received:2025-05-26 Revised:2025-07-03 Online:2026-01-15
  • Contact: Yanfen WANG

Abstract:

Regime shifts and their underlying mechanisms in ecosystems are a critical issue in ecological research, with profound implications for predicting ecological risks under global change. This review systematically synthesizes the theoretical advances in alternative stable state (ASS) of ecosystem multi-stability, focusing on three key dimensions: micro-macro process coupling, mechanisms of threshold response, and the role of regulatory nodes in ecosystem resilience. By integrating methodologies such as ASS theory, potential landscape modeling, and bifurcation analysis, we highlight how climate change and anthropogenic activities are driving critical ecosystems (e.g., coral reefs, Amazon rainforest, Arctic permafrost) toward tipping points, while hysteresis effects and irreversible potentials exacerbate recovery challenges. Emerging approaches combining network theory and energy (carbon) flux analysis offer novel insights for cross-scale early warning, yet bridging micro-scale mechanisms with macro-scale patterns remains a critical challenge. This review provides a theoretical framework for ecological threshold management and underscores the urgent need for interdisciplinary approaches to address planetary-scale regime shift risks.

Key words: ecosystem regime shifts, tipping point, multistability, hysteresis effects, food webs

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