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Godoy DFD, Pavanato H, Andriolo A. Planning Conservation Strategies of Guiana Dolphin Related to Canal Flow and Habitat Changes in the Estuarine Lagunar Complex of Cananéia. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.852104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities have altered the structure and function of coastal and estuarine ecosystems, affecting the animals that occur in these areas. Predictive models are useful to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic characteristics over species distribution. In this study, we used generalized linear models to assess the influence Valo Grande canal, which allows fresh water to enter the Estuarine Lagunar Complex of Cananéia, has on the occurrence of Guiana dolphins. A population of this species resides in the study area, which comprises many coastal and marine protected areas. Abiotic data and information on species occurrence were gathered between January 2012 and November 2014, during three fieldworks per season, covering four sectors within the estuary. The predictions resulting from generalized linear models indicated that the discharge of fresh water, which decreases salinity in the estuary, has a negative influence on the populations of dolphins in all sectors but, mainly, on sector IV, the closest to Valo Grande Canal. Thus, it is clear that Guiana dolphins presented a heterogeneous distribution within the studied estuary, and the areas of higher concentration of individuals deserve greater attention during the elaboration of conservation strategies.
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Maestro M, Pérez-Cayeiro ML, Morales-Ramírez Á, Chica-Ruiz JA. Evaluation of the management of marine protected areas. Comparative study in Costa Rica. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 308:114633. [PMID: 35124307 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, and stands out for its commitment to conservation. Along its two coasts, it presents a great heterogeneity of ecosystems and social realities. Social factors, more than physical-natural factors, determine the success or failure of an MPA, so they must be urgently incorporated into all phases of MPA management. The objective of this work is to analyze the management of three marine protected areas, to establish improvements. These areas are Santa Rosa National Park, Marino Ballena National Park and Cahuita National Park. The methodology used assesses 26 indicators grouped into 4 key factotres: management body, planning subprocess, public participation, and implementation subprocess. The results of this evaluation are 5 possible scenarios. These scenarios have been termed (from the ideal situation to the least favourable): proactive (1), learning (2), interactive (3), centralized (4) and formal (5) management. The results of this study show that both Santa Rosa and Cahuita present a proactive scenario (1), with high citizen participation, although in practice the way the two MPAs are managed is very different. Marino Ballena, on the other hand, is in scenario 5 (formal), and a series of measures are presented that can move it towards scenario 2 (learning). In general, MPA management in Costa Rica tends to be adaptive, with high public participation, as determined by its public policies. However, the existence of a public policy favors but does not guarantee success in MPA management, as can be seen in the difference in results. Therefore, the periodic evaluation of its management, allowing for feedback, is essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Maestro
- Faculty of Ocean and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, Avda. República Saharaui S/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain.
| | - María Luisa Pérez-Cayeiro
- Faculty of Ocean and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, Avda. República Saharaui S/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain.
| | - Álvaro Morales-Ramírez
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR), Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Juan Adolfo Chica-Ruiz
- Faculty of Ocean and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, Avda. República Saharaui S/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain.
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Pratchett MS, Caballes CF, Cvitanovic C, Raymundo ML, Babcock RC, Bonin MC, Bozec YM, Burn D, Byrne M, Castro-Sanguino C, Chen CCM, Condie SA, Cowan ZL, Deaker DJ, Desbiens A, Devantier LM, Doherty PJ, Doll PC, Doyle JR, Dworjanyn SA, Fabricius KE, Haywood MDE, Hock K, Hoggett AK, Høj L, Keesing JK, Kenchington RA, Lang BJ, Ling SD, Matthews SA, McCallum HI, Mellin C, Mos B, Motti CA, Mumby PJ, Stump RJW, Uthicke S, Vail L, Wolfe K, Wilson SK. Knowledge Gaps in the Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star Acanthaster sp. on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2021; 241:330-346. [PMID: 35015620 DOI: 10.1086/717026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
AbstractCrown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) are among the most studied coral reef organisms, owing to their propensity to undergo major population irruptions, which contribute to significant coral loss and reef degradation throughout the Indo-Pacific. However, there are still important knowledge gaps pertaining to the biology, ecology, and management of Acanthaster sp. Renewed efforts to advance understanding and management of Pacific crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) on Australia's Great Barrier Reef require explicit consideration of relevant and tractable knowledge gaps. Drawing on established horizon scanning methodologies, this study identified contemporary knowledge gaps by asking active and/or established crown-of-thorns sea star researchers to pose critical research questions that they believe should be addressed to improve the understanding and management of crown-of-thorns sea stars on the Great Barrier Reef. A total of 38 participants proposed 246 independent research questions, organized into 7 themes: feeding ecology, demography, distribution and abundance, predation, settlement, management, and environmental change. Questions were further assigned to 48 specific topics nested within the 7 themes. During this process, redundant questions were removed, which reduced the total number of distinct research questions to 172. Research questions posed were mostly related to themes of demography (46 questions) and management (48 questions). The dominant topics, meanwhile, were the incidence of population irruptions (16 questions), feeding ecology of larval sea stars (15 questions), effects of elevated water temperature on crown-of-thorns sea stars (13 questions), and predation on juveniles (12 questions). While the breadth of questions suggests that there is considerable research needed to improve understanding and management of crown-of-thorns sea stars on the Great Barrier Reef, the predominance of certain themes and topics suggests a major focus for new research while also providing a roadmap to guide future research efforts.
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Mazzei R, Rubenstein DR. Larval ecology, dispersal, and the evolution of sociality in the sea. Ethology 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Renata Mazzei
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology Columbia University New York NY USA
| | - Dustin R. Rubenstein
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology Columbia University New York NY USA
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5
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Classification of Sustainable Activities: EU Taxonomy and Scientific Literature. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12166460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In March 2020, the European Commission published the EU Taxonomy, a classification system of economic activities that can be considered environmentally sustainable. Motivated by this policy initiative, we propose a bibliometric analysis, based on the Web of Science database for the period January 1990–March 2020, regarding the extant scientific production related to the EU Taxonomy environmental objectives and macro-sectors. We find that a considerable number of scientific works—161,595 publications—have investigated Taxonomy-related areas, showing that the EU Taxonomy defined a working method, based on the cooperation among regulators, academics, and industry, representing a valuable example of evidence-based policy making. Furthermore, topic modelling analysis shows that extracted papers focused on improvements in production processes, innovation, and environmental performance. Thus, exploiting time and geographic patterns of the scientific publications, we perform a multivariate analysis to investigate its relationship with subsequent levels of pollution. Our evidence shows that, for the past, a higher level of EU Taxonomy-related publications is associated with a lower level of CO2 emissions, supporting the view that scientific production has a societal impact in terms of environmental sustainability. Accordingly, now that EU Taxonomy-related topics have been incorporated into policy measures, further positive environmental effects are expected from here on out.
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6
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Dey CJ, Rego AI, Midwood JD, Koops MA. A review and meta-analysis of collaborative research prioritization studies in ecology, biodiversity conservation and environmental science. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20200012. [PMID: 32183628 PMCID: PMC7126043 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Collaborative research prioritization (CRP) studies have become increasingly popular during the last decade. By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, and using a democratic process to create a list of research priorities, these methods purport to identify research topics that will better meet the needs of science users. Here, we review 41 CRP studies in the fields of ecology, biodiversity conservation and environmental science that collectively identify 2031 research priorities. We demonstrate that climate change, ecosystem services and protected areas are common terms found in the research priorities of many CRP studies, and that identified research priorities have become less unique over time. In addition, we show that there is a considerable variation in the size and composition of the groups involved in CRP studies, and that at least one aspect of the identified research priorities (lexical diversity) is related to the size of the CRP group. Although some CRP studies have been highly cited, the evidence that CRP studies have directly motivated research is weak, perhaps because most CRP studies have not directly involved organizations that fund science. We suggest that the most important impact of CRP studies may lie in their ability to connect individuals across sectors and help to build diverse communities of practice around important issues at the science-policy interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody J. Dey
- Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario, CanadaL7S 1A1
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7
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Tittensor DP, Beger M, Boerder K, Boyce DG, Cavanagh RD, Cosandey-Godin A, Crespo GO, Dunn DC, Ghiffary W, Grant SM, Hannah L, Halpin PN, Harfoot M, Heaslip SG, Jeffery NW, Kingston N, Lotze HK, McGowan J, McLeod E, McOwen CJ, O’Leary BC, Schiller L, Stanley RRE, Westhead M, Wilson KL, Worm B. Integrating climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation in the global ocean. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaay9969. [PMID: 31807711 PMCID: PMC6881166 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay9969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The impacts of climate change and the socioecological challenges they present are ubiquitous and increasingly severe. Practical efforts to operationalize climate-responsive design and management in the global network of marine protected areas (MPAs) are required to ensure long-term effectiveness for safeguarding marine biodiversity and ecosystem services. Here, we review progress in integrating climate change adaptation into MPA design and management and provide eight recommendations to expedite this process. Climate-smart management objectives should become the default for all protected areas, and made into an explicit international policy target. Furthermore, incentives to use more dynamic management tools would increase the climate change responsiveness of the MPA network as a whole. Given ongoing negotiations on international conservation targets, now is the ideal time to proactively reform management of the global seascape for the dynamic climate-biodiversity reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek P. Tittensor
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
- Corresponding author.
| | - Maria Beger
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Kristina Boerder
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Daniel G. Boyce
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | | | - Guillermo Ortuño Crespo
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Daniel C. Dunn
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | | | - Lee Hannah
- The Moore Center for Science, Conservation International, Arlington, VA, USA
| | - Patrick N. Halpin
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mike Harfoot
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Susan G. Heaslip
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - Nicholas W. Jeffery
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - Naomi Kingston
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Heike K. Lotze
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | | | - Chris J. McOwen
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bethan C. O’Leary
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester, UK
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, UK
| | - Laurenne Schiller
- Marine Affairs Program, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Ocean Wise, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ryan R. E. Stanley
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - Maxine Westhead
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | | | - Boris Worm
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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8
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Knight AR. How can the social sciences work with ecology in informing feral horse policy and management in south‐eastern Australia? ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/emr.12366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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9
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Lemieux CJ, Groulx MW, Bocking S, Beechey TJ. Evidence-based decision-making in Canada’s protected areas organizations: Implications for management effectiveness. Facets (Ott) 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2017-0107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aichi Biodiversity Target 19 calls on Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to improve, share, transfer, and apply knowledge. In this study, we provide an initial assessment of the state of evidence-based decision-making in Canada’s protected areas organizations by examining (1) the value and use of various forms of evidence by managers and (2) the extent to which institutional conditions enable or inhibit the use of evidence in decision-making. Results revealed that although managers value and use many forms of evidence in their decision-making, information produced by staff and their organizations are given priority. Other forms of evidence, such as Indigenous knowledge and peer-reviewed information, are valued and used less. The most significant barriers to evidence-based decision-making were limited financial resources, lack of staff, inadequate timeframes for decision-making, a lack of monitoring programs, and a disconnect between researchers and decision-makers. Overall, our results suggest that the potential benefits of evidence-based approaches are not being maximized in Canada’s protected areas organizations. We propose several recommendations to introduce or improve the use of diverse forms of evidence to enhance management effectiveness of Canada’s protected areas and by extension conservation outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Lemieux
- Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada
- Canadian Council on Ecological Areas, 91 Cooper Street, Cambridge, ON N3C 2N5, Canada
| | - Mark W. Groulx
- School of Environmental Planning, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada
| | - Stephen Bocking
- Trent School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 0G2, Canada
| | - Tom J. Beechey
- Canadian Council on Ecological Areas, 91 Cooper Street, Cambridge, ON N3C 2N5, Canada
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10
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Bridging science and practice in conservation: Deficits and challenges from a research perspective. Basic Appl Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2017.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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11
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Marshall N, Adger N, Attwood S, Brown K, Crissman C, Cvitanovic C, De Young C, Gooch M, James C, Jessen S, Johnson D, Marshall P, Park S, Wachenfeld D, Wrigley D. Empirically derived guidance for social scientists to influence environmental policy. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0171950. [PMID: 28278238 PMCID: PMC5344331 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Failure to stem trends of ecological disruption and associated loss of ecosystem services worldwide is partly due to the inadequate integration of the human dimension into environmental decision-making. Decision-makers need knowledge of the human dimension of resource systems and of the social consequences of decision-making if environmental management is to be effective and adaptive. Social scientists have a central role to play, but little guidance exists to help them influence decision-making processes. We distil 348 years of cumulative experience shared by 31 environmental experts across three continents into advice for social scientists seeking to increase their influence in the environmental policy arena. Results focus on the importance of process, engagement, empathy and acumen and reveal the importance of understanding and actively participating in policy processes through co-producing knowledge and building trust. The insights gained during this research might empower a science-driven cultural change in science-policy relations for the routine integration of the human dimension in environmental decision making; ultimately for an improved outlook for earth’s ecosystems and the billions of people that depend on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Marshall
- CSIRO Land and Water, ATSIP Building, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- College of Environmental and Marine Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Neil Adger
- Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Attwood
- Biodiversity International, Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich Norfolk, United Kingdom
| | - Katrina Brown
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | | | - Christopher Cvitanovic
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Cassandra De Young
- Food and Agriculture Organisation, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla Rome, Italy
| | - Margaret Gooch
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Sabine Jessen
- Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Dave Johnson
- Department of the Environment, Canberra, Australia
| | - Paul Marshall
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Sarah Park
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich Norfolk, United Kingdom
- School of international Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich Norfolk, United Kingdom
| | - Dave Wachenfeld
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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12
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White JW, Nickols KJ, Malone D, Carr MH, Starr RM, Cordoleani F, Baskett ML, Hastings A, Botsford LW. Fitting state-space integral projection models to size-structured time series data to estimate unknown parameters. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2016; 26:2675-2692. [PMID: 27907261 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Revised: 04/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Integral projection models (IPMs) have a number of advantages over matrix-model approaches for analyzing size-structured population dynamics, because the latter require parameter estimates for each age or stage transition. However, IPMs still require appropriate data. Typically they are parameterized using individual-scale relationships between body size and demographic rates, but these are not always available. We present an alternative approach for estimating demographic parameters from time series of size-structured survey data using a Bayesian state-space IPM (SSIPM). By fitting an IPM in a state-space framework, we estimate unknown parameters and explicitly account for process and measurement error in a dataset to estimate the underlying process model dynamics. We tested our method by fitting SSIPMs to simulated data; the model fit the simulated size distributions well and estimated unknown demographic parameters accurately. We then illustrated our method using nine years of annual surveys of the density and size distribution of two fish species (blue rockfish, Sebastes mystinus, and gopher rockfish, S. carnatus) at seven kelp forest sites in California. The SSIPM produced reasonable fits to the data, and estimated fishing rates for both species that were higher than our Bayesian prior estimates based on coast-wide stock assessment estimates of harvest. That improvement reinforces the value of being able to estimate demographic parameters from local-scale monitoring data. We highlight a number of key decision points in SSIPM development (e.g., open vs. closed demography, number of particles in the state-space filter) so that users can apply the method to their own datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Wilson White
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28043, USA
| | - Kerry J Nickols
- Division of Science and Environmental Policy, California State University Monterey Bay, Seaside, California, 93955, USA
| | - Daniel Malone
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA
| | - Mark H Carr
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA
| | - Richard M Starr
- California Sea Grant Extension Program, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California, 95039, USA
| | - Flora Cordoleani
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Marissa L Baskett
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Alan Hastings
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Louis W Botsford
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA
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13
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Fleming A, Howden SM. Ambiguity: A new way of thinking about responses to climate change. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 571:1271-1274. [PMID: 27486065 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.07.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Revised: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/23/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Diversity, interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity are now recognized as vital to tackling wicked problems such as those presented by a changing climate (Nature editorial 2015, Ledford 2015; Dick et al., 2016). Including diverse disciplines in science projects enables a range of different views which often facilitate the creation of innovative solutions. Supporting multiple views and options requires a different way of working beyond traditional reductionist approaches to science, communication and decision-making. To embrace diversity in scientific project teams in order to tackle complex, integrated and urgent issues but to expect singular and linear pathways forward is paradoxical. Much has been written about the need for the scientific community to embrace uncertainty (e.g. Popper, Lempert & Bankes 2005; Lempert et al., 2004; Nelson, Howden & Hayman 2013; Bammer & Smithson 2008). We argue that this in itself will not suffice, and that there is also a need to embrace ambiguity in certain situations. Thus, in this article we explore: (1) what ambiguity is, including the benefits it can offer to climate adaptation in particular, using existing approaches to ambiguity in the arts and humanities as examples (2), we discuss practical meanings of ambiguity in relation to climate change, (3) we propose possible next steps for bringing ambiguity into interdisciplinary practice, and (4) we identify some challenges and necessary preconditions to successfully and appropriately embracing ambiguity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Fleming
- Land and Water, CSIRO, Battery Point, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 7000; Centre for Marine Socio-ecology, Battery Point, Tasmania, Australia, 7000.
| | - S M Howden
- ANU Climate Change Institiute, Canberra, Australia, 2601
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14
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Schill SR, Raber GT, Roberts JJ, Treml EA, Brenner J, Halpin PN. No Reef Is an Island: Integrating Coral Reef Connectivity Data into the Design of Regional-Scale Marine Protected Area Networks. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144199. [PMID: 26641083 PMCID: PMC4671564 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We integrated coral reef connectivity data for the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico into a conservation decision-making framework for designing a regional scale marine protected area (MPA) network that provides insight into ecological and political contexts. We used an ocean circulation model and regional coral reef data to simulate eight spawning events from 2008-2011, applying a maximum 30-day pelagic larval duration and 20% mortality rate. Coral larval dispersal patterns were analyzed between coral reefs across jurisdictional marine zones to identify spatial relationships between larval sources and destinations within countries and territories across the region. We applied our results in Marxan, a conservation planning software tool, to identify a regional coral reef MPA network design that meets conservation goals, minimizes underlying threats, and maintains coral reef connectivity. Our results suggest that approximately 77% of coral reefs identified as having a high regional connectivity value are not included in the existing MPA network. This research is unique because we quantify and report coral larval connectivity data by marine ecoregions and Exclusive Economic Zones (EZZ) and use this information to identify gaps in the current Caribbean-wide MPA network by integrating asymmetric connectivity information in Marxan to design a regional MPA network that includes important reef network connections. The identification of important reef connectivity metrics guides the selection of priority conservation areas and supports resilience at the whole system level into the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R. Schill
- Caribbean Program, The Nature Conservancy, Coral Gables, Florida, United States of America
| | - George T. Raber
- Department of Geography and Geology, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Jason J. Roberts
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Eric A. Treml
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jorge Brenner
- Texas Chapter, The Nature Conservancy, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Patrick N. Halpin
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
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15
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Starr RM, Wendt DE, Barnes CL, Marks CI, Malone D, Waltz G, Schmidt KT, Chiu J, Launer AL, Hall NC, Yochum N. Variation in responses of fishes across multiple reserves within a network of marine protected areas in temperate waters. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118502. [PMID: 25760856 PMCID: PMC4356516 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Meta-analyses of field studies have shown that biomass, density, species richness, and size of organisms protected by no-take marine reserves generally increase over time. The magnitude and timing of changes in these response variables, however, vary greatly and depend upon the taxonomic groups protected, size and type of reserve, oceanographic regime, and time since the reserve was implemented. We conducted collaborative, fishery-independent surveys of fishes for seven years in and near newly created marine protected areas (MPAs) in central California, USA. Results showed that initially most MPAs contained more and larger fishes than associated reference sites, likely due to differences in habitat quality. The differences between MPAs and reference sites did not greatly change over the seven years of our study, indicating that reserve benefits will be slow to accumulate in California’s temperate eastern boundary current. Fishes in an older reserve that has been closed to fishing since 1973, however, were significantly more abundant and larger than those in associated reference sites. This indicates that reserve benefits are likely to accrue in the California Current ecosystem, but that 20 years or more may be needed to detect significant changes in response variables that are due to MPA implementation. Because of the high spatial and temporal variability of fish recruitment patterns, long-term monitoring is needed to identify positive responses of fishes to protection in the diverse set of habitats in a dynamic eastern boundary current. Qualitative estimates of response variables, such as would be obtained from an expert opinion process, are unlikely to provide an accurate description of MPA performance. Similarly, using one species or one MPA as an indicator is unlikely to provide sufficient resolution to accurately describe the performance of multiple MPAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard M. Starr
- California Sea Grant Extension Program, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Dean E. Wendt
- California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, California, United States of America
| | - Cheryl L. Barnes
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - Corina I. Marks
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - Dan Malone
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Grant Waltz
- California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, California, United States of America
| | - Katherine T. Schmidt
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Chiu
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - Andrea L. Launer
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - Nathan C. Hall
- California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, California, United States of America
| | - Noëlle Yochum
- Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
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Popescu VD, Rozylowicz L, Niculae IM, Cucu AL, Hartel T. Species, habitats, society: an evaluation of research supporting EU's Natura 2000 network. PLoS One 2014; 9:e113648. [PMID: 25415188 PMCID: PMC4240592 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Natura 2000 network is regarded as one of the conservation success stories in the global effort to protect biodiversity. However, significant challenges remain in Natura 2000 implementation, owing to its rapid expansion, and lack of a coherent vision for its future. Scientific research is critical for identifying conservation priorities, setting management goals, and reconciling biodiversity protection and society in the complex political European landscape. Thus, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive evaluation of published Natura 2000 research to highlight prevalent research themes, disciplinary approaches, and spatial entities. We conducted a systematic review of 572 scientific articles and conference proceedings focused on Natura 2000 research, published between 1996 and 2014. We grouped these articles into ‘ecological’ and ‘social and policy’ categories. Using a novel application of network analysis of article keywords, we found that Natura 2000 research forms a cohesive small-world network, owing to the emphasis on ecological research (79% of studies, with a strong focus on spatial conservation planning), and the underrepresentation of studies addressing ‘social and policy’ issues (typically focused on environmental impact assessment, multi-level governance, agri-environment policy, and ecosystem services valuation). ‘Ecological’ and ‘social and policy’ research shared only general concepts (e.g., Natura 2000, Habitats Directive) suggesting a disconnection between these disciplines. The UK and the Mediterranean basin countries dominated Natura 2000 research, and there was a weak correlation between number of studies and proportion of national territory protected. Approximately 40% of ‘social and policy’ research and 26% of ‘ecological’ studies highlighted negative implications of Natura 2000, while 21% of studies found positive social and biodiversity effects. We emphasize the need for designing inter- and transdisciplinary research in order to promote a social-ecological understanding of Natura 2000, and advance EU conservation policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viorel D. Popescu
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI), University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- * E-mail:
| | - Laurentiu Rozylowicz
- Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI), University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Iulian M. Niculae
- Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI), University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adina L. Cucu
- Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI), University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Tibor Hartel
- Department of Environmental Studies, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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