C. S. Holling
Encyclopedia
Crawford Stanley Holling, OC
(6 December 1930, Theresa, New York
) is a Canadian ecologist
, and Emeritus Eminent Scholar and Professor in Ecological Sciences at the University of Florida
. Holling is one of the conceptual founders of ecological economics
.
, which was where he first became interested in nature. As a teenager he was a member of the Royal Ontario Museum's
Toronto Junior Field Naturalists.
Holling received his B.A. and M.Sc. at the University of Toronto
in 1952 and his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia
in 1957. He worked for several years in the Canadian Department of Forestry in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
After working for Forestry Canada, Buzz Holling was, at various times, Professor and Director of the Institute of Animal Resource Ecology, University of British Columbia, Director of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Vienna
, and Eminent Scholar, Arthur R. Marshall Jr. Chair in Ecological Sciences in the Department of Zoology at the University of Florida.
He retired from the University of Florida in 1999, but remains on the faculty as an Emeritus Eminent Scholar.
He has been awarded two major awards from the Ecological Society of America
, the Mercer Award given to a young scientist in recognition of an outstanding paper in ecology in 1966, and the Eminent Ecologist Award for "outstanding contributions to the science of Ecology" in 1999. He also received the Kenneth Boulding Memorial Prize, in 2000, the Volvo Environment Prize
in 2008, an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Guelph in 1998, and an Honorary Doctor of Science from the Simon Fraser University in 2011. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
, a foreign Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and has been awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Arts and Science. In 2009, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
"for his pioneering contributions to the field of ecology, notably for his work on ecosystem dynamics, resilience theory and ecological economics".
He was founding editor-in-chief of the open access on-line journal Conservation Ecology, now renamed Ecology and Society
. He was also the founder of the Resilience Alliance, an international science network.
and ecology
with simulation modeling and policy analysis to develop integrative theories of change that have practical utility. He has introduced important ideas in the application of ecology and evolution, including resilience
, adaptive management
, the adaptive cycle, and panarchy
.
His early work included major contributions to population and behavioural ecology. Later, he was among the first ecologists to recognize the importance of nonlinear dynamics. This early work on predation led to a series of papers, including his 1959 Citation Classic paper in the Canadian Entomologist, in which he developed the notion of functional response
(the relationship between prey density and the rate at which prey is eaten), an idea that continues to be a linchpin of modern population ecology.
His 1973 paper on the resilience
of ecological systems had a substantial impact within ecology and other natural and social sciences. He has also contributed important ideas to ecological management, including Adaptive management
and the Adaptive Cycle. More recently his work on the cross-scale structure and dynamics of ecosystems has been highly influential. This work resulted in the 2002 book Panarchy: understanding transformations in human and natural systems.
His work is frequently cited in the fields of ecology, environmental management
, ecological economics
and the human dimensions of global change.
C.S. Holling's most cited articles include:
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(6 December 1930, Theresa, New York
Theresa, New York
Theresa, New York may refer to:*Theresa , New York*Theresa , New York...
) is a Canadian ecologist
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
, and Emeritus Eminent Scholar and Professor in Ecological Sciences at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
. Holling is one of the conceptual founders of ecological economics
Ecological economics
Image:Sustainable development.svg|right|The three pillars of sustainability. Clickable.|275px|thumbpoly 138 194 148 219 164 240 182 257 219 277 263 291 261 311 264 331 272 351 283 366 300 383 316 394 287 408 261 417 224 424 182 426 154 423 119 415 87 403 58 385 40 368 24 347 17 328 13 309 16 286 26...
.
Biography
Crawford Stanley Holling was born in 1930 in the United States to Canadian parents. He grew up in Northern OntarioNorthern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
, which was where he first became interested in nature. As a teenager he was a member of the Royal Ontario Museum's
Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of world culture and natural history in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With its main entrance facing Bloor Street in Downtown Toronto, the museum is situated north of Queen's Park and east of Philosopher's Walk in the University of Toronto...
Toronto Junior Field Naturalists.
Holling received his B.A. and M.Sc. at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1952 and his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
in 1957. He worked for several years in the Canadian Department of Forestry in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
After working for Forestry Canada, Buzz Holling was, at various times, Professor and Director of the Institute of Animal Resource Ecology, University of British Columbia, Director of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, and Eminent Scholar, Arthur R. Marshall Jr. Chair in Ecological Sciences in the Department of Zoology at the University of Florida.
He retired from the University of Florida in 1999, but remains on the faculty as an Emeritus Eminent Scholar.
He has been awarded two major awards from the Ecological Society of America
Ecological Society of America
The Ecological Society of America is a professional organization of ecological scientists. Based in the United States, ESA publishes a suite of publications, from peer-reviewed journals to newsletters, fact sheets and teaching resources. It holds an annual meeting at different locations in the...
, the Mercer Award given to a young scientist in recognition of an outstanding paper in ecology in 1966, and the Eminent Ecologist Award for "outstanding contributions to the science of Ecology" in 1999. He also received the Kenneth Boulding Memorial Prize, in 2000, the Volvo Environment Prize
Volvo Environment Prize
Volvo Environment Prize is an annual international award originating in Sweden. The prize is awarded to individuals who explore the way to a sustainable world...
in 2008, an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Guelph in 1998, and an Honorary Doctor of Science from the Simon Fraser University in 2011. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
, a foreign Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and has been awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Arts and Science. In 2009, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
"for his pioneering contributions to the field of ecology, notably for his work on ecosystem dynamics, resilience theory and ecological economics".
He was founding editor-in-chief of the open access on-line journal Conservation Ecology, now renamed Ecology and Society
Ecology and Society
Ecology and Society is a quarterly open access interdisciplinary scientific journal published by the Resilience Alliance. It covers an array of disciplines from the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities concerned with the relationship between society and the life-supporting...
. He was also the founder of the Resilience Alliance, an international science network.
Work
Throughout his research, C. S. Holling has blended systems theorySystems theory
Systems theory is the transdisciplinary study of systems in general, with the goal of elucidating principles that can be applied to all types of systems at all nesting levels in all fields of research...
and ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
with simulation modeling and policy analysis to develop integrative theories of change that have practical utility. He has introduced important ideas in the application of ecology and evolution, including resilience
Resilience (ecology)
In ecology, resilience is the capacity of an ecosystem to respond to a perturbation or disturbance by resisting damage and recovering quickly. Such perturbations and disturbances can include stochastic events such as fires, flooding, windstorms, insect population explosions, and human activities...
, adaptive management
Adaptive management
-What is Adaptive Management ?:Adaptive management , also known as adaptive resource management , is a structured, iterative process of optimal decision making in the face of uncertainty, with an aim to reducing uncertainty over time via system monitoring...
, the adaptive cycle, and panarchy
Panarchy
Panarchy is a conceptual term first coined by the Belgian botanist and economist Paul Emile de Puydt in 1860, referring to a specific form of governance that would encompass all others. The Oxford English Dictionary lists the noun as "chiefly poetic" with the meaning "a universal realm," citing...
.
His early work included major contributions to population and behavioural ecology. Later, he was among the first ecologists to recognize the importance of nonlinear dynamics. This early work on predation led to a series of papers, including his 1959 Citation Classic paper in the Canadian Entomologist, in which he developed the notion of functional response
Functional response
A functional response in ecology is the intake rate of a consumer as a function of food density. It is associated with the numerical response, which is the reproduction rate of a consumer as a function of food density. Following C. S...
(the relationship between prey density and the rate at which prey is eaten), an idea that continues to be a linchpin of modern population ecology.
His 1973 paper on the resilience
Resilience (ecology)
In ecology, resilience is the capacity of an ecosystem to respond to a perturbation or disturbance by resisting damage and recovering quickly. Such perturbations and disturbances can include stochastic events such as fires, flooding, windstorms, insect population explosions, and human activities...
of ecological systems had a substantial impact within ecology and other natural and social sciences. He has also contributed important ideas to ecological management, including Adaptive management
Adaptive management
-What is Adaptive Management ?:Adaptive management , also known as adaptive resource management , is a structured, iterative process of optimal decision making in the face of uncertainty, with an aim to reducing uncertainty over time via system monitoring...
and the Adaptive Cycle. More recently his work on the cross-scale structure and dynamics of ecosystems has been highly influential. This work resulted in the 2002 book Panarchy: understanding transformations in human and natural systems.
His work is frequently cited in the fields of ecology, environmental management
Environmental management
Environmental resource management is “a purposeful activity with the goal to maintain and improve the state of an environmental resource affected by human activities” . It is not, as the phrase suggests, the management of the environment as such, but rather the management of the interaction and...
, ecological economics
Ecological economics
Image:Sustainable development.svg|right|The three pillars of sustainability. Clickable.|275px|thumbpoly 138 194 148 219 164 240 182 257 219 277 263 291 261 311 264 331 272 351 283 366 300 383 316 394 287 408 261 417 224 424 182 426 154 423 119 415 87 403 58 385 40 368 24 347 17 328 13 309 16 286 26...
and the human dimensions of global change.
Literature
C.S. Holling has edited or co-edited several books:- 1978. Adaptive environmental assessment and management. (Editor) London: John Wiley & Sons.
- 1995. Barriers and bridges to the renewal of ecosystems and institutions. Edited with L. Gunderson and S. Light (editors) New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
- 2002, Panarchy: understanding transformations in human and natural systems. Edited with L. Gunderson, (editors) Washington, DC: Island Press.
- 2008. Discontinuities in Ecosystems and Other Complex Systems. Edited with Craig R. Allen, New York, NY : Columbia University Press.
C.S. Holling's most cited articles include:
- 1959 "The components of predation as revealed by a study of small mammal predation of the European Pine Sawfly". in: Canadian Entomologist. Vol 91 : 293-320.
- 1973. "Resilience and stability of ecological systems". in: Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. Vol 4 :1-23.
- 1978, with D. Ludwig, D. and D.D. Jones. in: "Qualitative analysis of insect outbreak systems". Journal of Animal Ecology. Vol 47 (1): 315-332.
- 1990, with C.J. Walters, "Large-scale management experiments and learning by doing", in: Ecology. Vol 71 (6): 2060-2068
- 1992, "Cross-scale Morphology, geometry, and dynamics of ecosystems". in: Ecological Monographs. Vol 62 (4): 447-502
- 1996, with G.K. Meffe. "Command and control and the pathology of natural resource management". in: Conservation Biology. Vol 10 (2): 328-337.