Traditional harvest systems as models for advancing understanding of dynamics and resilience in socio-ecological systems

Traditional harvest entails humans extracting and managing resources from intact, semi-natural ecosystems. As such, it is inherently comprised of close interactions between humans and ecosystems and may provide unique insight into socio-ecological systems. Traditional harvest is generally accompanied by traditional resource management and directly influences ecological community dynamics, species reproduction and distribution, and competitive interactions. Meanwhile, ecological processes, seasonality, and natural disturbances influence human behaviors, decision making, activities, and well-being. As a result of this tight coupling, traditional harvest systems have the potential to serve as important laboratories for the study of ecological community dynamics. Resilience science, in particular, may benefit from greater appreciation of traditional harvest, wherein thresholds and bidirectional feedbacks may be more easily detected and modeled than in more diffuse socio-ecological systems. Additionally, because traditional harvest links to cultural heritage and traditional ecological knowledge, a greater understanding of these systems may facilitate efforts to support marginalized communities and social equity. We here discuss the value of traditional harvest research for science and society, highlighting as a case study the traditional harvest of Emory oak acorns by Western Apache Tribal Nations. We argue that traditional harvest systems carry important heuristic value but are often assumed to be rare or declining and are therefore relatively neglected by researchers, yet their persistence in modern agriculture-dominated systems exemplifies resilience. As environmental change persists and natural systems near critical tipping points, understanding the role of humans in ecosystem resilience will be necessary to develop effective and sustainable management.