Socio-ecological System Dynamics 

Numerous perennial (long-lived) crops exhibit alternate bearing, a pattern of reproduction in which a year of high reproductive output is followed by a year of low output. Examples included apple, coffee, olives, and pistachio, among others. Alternate bearing can synchronize across farm, regional, and even national scales, with significant implications for farmer livelihoods and global food supply. We use field experiments, farmer interviews, and global crop yield data to analyze patterns of alternate bearing across space, characterize feedbacks with farmer decision-making, and identify resilience strategies. We advance a socio-ecological understanding of alternate bearing in perennial crops across spatial and temporal scales.

With funding from The Nature Conservancy, we are investigating how a historic dam removal and riparian restoration project has shaped local socio-ecological interactions over time, with broader implications of understanding the socio-cultural and equity aspects of floodplain restoration and dam removal projects. The Mill project pilots a human dimensions assessment to meaningfully measure the human benefits of an early, TNC-led nature-based solution.