Shifting Baselines to Thresholds: Reframing Exploitation in the Marine Environment

Current research on anthropogenic impacts marine ecosystems often relies the concept of a “baseline,” which aims to describe prior human contact. Recent is increasingly showing that humans have been involved in for much longer than previously understood. We propose theoretical framework oriented around system “thresholds” referring system-wide changes culture, ecosystem dynamics, and molecular evolution. The threshold allows conceptual space account fluid nature throughout time while providing critical understanding drivers change. highlight practical approaches exploring thresholds past provide key insights future adaptation changing world. To ensure ecological societal goals are met, it efforts contextualized into incorporates society as integral ecology