Understanding ‘it depends’ in ecology: a guide to hypothesising, visualising and interpreting statistical interactions

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 98(4), P. 983 - 1002

Published: March 1, 2023

ABSTRACT Ecologists routinely use statistical models to detect and explain interactions among ecological drivers, with a goal evaluate whether an effect of interest changes in sign or magnitude different contexts. Two fundamental properties are often overlooked during the process hypothesising, visualising interpreting between drivers: measurement scale – response is analysed on additive multiplicative scale, such as ratio logarithmic scale; symmetry dependencies considered both directions. Overlooking these can lead one more three inferential errors: misinterpretation ( i ) detection (Type‐D error), ii modification (Type‐S error); iii misidentification underlying processes (Type‐A error). We illustrate each errors broad range questions applied empirical simulated data sets. demonstrate how meta‐analysis, widely used approach that seeks explicitly characterise context dependence, especially prone all errors. Based insights, we propose guidelines improve hypothesis generation, testing, visualisation interpretation ecology.

Language: Английский

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Crop monitoring using remote sensing land use and land change data: Comparative analysis of deep learning methods using pre-trained CNN models

Big Data Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 36, P. 100448 - 100448

Published: March 20, 2024

Language: Английский

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Clustered warming tolerances and the nonlinear risks of biodiversity loss on a warming planet

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1917)

Published: Jan. 9, 2025

Anthropogenic climate change is projected to become a major driver of biodiversity loss, destabilizing the ecosystems on which human society depends. As planet rapidly warms, disruption ecological interactions among populations, species and their environment, will likely drive positive feedback loops, accelerating pace magnitude losses. We propose that, even without invoking such amplifying feedback, loss should increase nonlinearly with warming because non-uniform distribution biodiversity. Whether these non-uniformities are uneven populations across species’ thermal niche, or niche limits within an community, we show that in both cases, resulting clustering population tolerances drives nonlinear increases risk discuss how fundamental constraints physiologies geographical distributions give rise clustered tolerances, responses changing climates could variously temper, delay intensify dynamics. argue risks be null expectation under warming, highlight empirical research needed understand causes, commonness consequences better predict where, when why losses occur. This article part discussion meeting issue ‘Bending curve towards nature recovery: building Georgina Mace’s legacy for biodiverse future’.

Language: Английский

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Dwarfism and gigantism drive human-mediated extinctions on islands

Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 379(6636), P. 1054 - 1059

Published: March 10, 2023

Islands have long been recognized as distinctive evolutionary arenas leading to morphologically divergent species, such dwarfs and giants. We assessed how body size evolution in island mammals may exacerbated their vulnerability, well human arrival has contributed past ongoing extinctions, by integrating data on 1231 extant 350 extinct species from islands paleo worldwide spanning the 23 million years. found that likelihood of extinction endangerment are highest most extreme Extinction risk insular was compounded modern humans, which accelerated rates more than 10-fold, resulting an almost complete demise these iconic marvels evolution.

Language: Английский

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Innovations in science, technology, engineering, and policy (iSTEP) for addressing environmental issues towards sustainable development

The Innovation Geoscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2(3), P. 100087 - 100087

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

<sec></sec><sec><p> Sustainable development depends on the integration of economy, society, and environment. Yet, escalating environmental challenges pose threats to both society economy. Despite progress in addressing issues promote sustainability, knowledge gaps scientific research, technological advancement, engineering practice, policy persist. In this review, we aim narrow these by proposing innovation-based solutions refining existing paradigms. Reviewing past research actions, first elucidate evolution sustainability science essence sustainable its assessment. Secondly, summarize current major issues, including global warming climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation desertification, pollution, as well their relationships with achievement Development Goals (SDGs). Subsequently, review critically evaluates role innovations science, technology, engineering, (iSTEP) synergies advancing SDGs. While sequential may vary based specific contexts or scenarios within iSTEP framework, each component reinforces others, fostering continuous improvement. Finally, offers recommendations future perspectives for formulating roadmaps. Recommendations include a vision promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, encouraging transboundary cooperation among stakeholders endeavors.</p></sec>

Language: Английский

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Disturbance theory for ecosystem ecologists: A primer

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(6)

Published: May 30, 2024

Abstract Understanding what regulates ecosystem functional responses to disturbance is essential in this era of global change. However, many pioneering and still influential disturbance‐related theorie proposed by ecologists were developed prior rapid change, before tools metrics available test them. In light new knowledge conceptual advances across biological disciplines, we present four ecology concepts that are particularly relevant the field: (a) directionality response disturbance; (b) thresholds; (c) disturbance–succession interactions; (d) diversity‐functional stability relationships. We discuss how knowledge, theory, terminology several when integrated, can enhance analyze interpret disturbance. For example, interpreting thresholds interactions, should consider concurrent biotic regime non‐linearity, multiple pathways, typically theoretical analytical domain population community ecologists. Similarly, interpretation requires approaches recognize promote, inhibit, or fundamentally change functions. suggest truly integrative advancing

Language: Английский

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A systematic approach for detecting abrupt shifts in ecological timeseries

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 290, P. 110429 - 110429

Published: Jan. 18, 2024

Language: Английский

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Structural heterogeneity predicts ecological resistance and resilience to wildfire in arid shrublands

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(6)

Published: May 24, 2024

Abstract Context Dynamic feedbacks between physical structure and ecological function drive ecosystem productivity, resilience, biodiversity maintenance. Detailed maps of canopy enable comprehensive evaluations structure–function relationships. However, these relationships are scale-dependent, identifying relevant spatial scales to link remains challenging. Objectives We identified optimal relate heterogeneity resistance, measured as the impacts wildfire on structure, native shrub recruitment. further investigated whether structural can aid predictions Methods Using high-resolution imagery from unoccupied aerial systems (UAS), we mapped across ten semi-arid landscapes, undergoing a disturbance-mediated regime shift shrubland dominance by invasive annual grasses. then applied wavelet analysis decompose into discrete related metrics resilience resistance. Results found strong indicators scale dependence in tested Wildfire effects were most prominent at single (2.34 m), while abundance recruits was sensitive range scales, 0.07 – 2.34 m. Structural enabled out-of-site recruitment (R 2 = 0.55). The best-performing predictive model included multiple scales. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that requires analyses explicitly account for scale. As enables spatially extensive heterogeneity, models will our understanding mechanisms imperiled arid ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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The Anthropocene rift and social policy – rethinking ontological and epistemological perspectives

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 9, 2025

Purpose For over two decades, diverse social sciences disciplines have placed the Anthropocene among key factors influencing contemporary ontological and epistemological advancements. However, policy research literature focus little on discussion loop. This article, therefore, discusses how debates unfold in understanding practices; they challenge core premises path-dependence model which processes are explained. Design/methodology/approach With a brief reflection public studies, we summarise from regarding Anthropocene. In this regard, revisited established school traditions that, to our knowledge, never yet provided solid basis for responding epoch of rift around globe. Findings The crisis is characterised by constantly evolving social-ecological problems that lack fixed reference points ending. globally, decisions remain bound conventional practices ways thinking developed static, path-dependency-oriented institutional models. These models ignore “non-human world”, has become central threat human civilisation its institutions. As counter discourse hegemony, then present an alternative ontology epistemology can navigate uncertainty socio-ecological relationality, primarily linked proposed idea path-situational. We also emphasise need co-production governance involves meaningful collaboration various stakeholders within policy-making. Originality/value article contributes intersection between issues offering new narrative embraces more assertive political describing actual objective conditions crisis. Our argument evolves well-established fields scholarship: process, paradigm outlining future elements studies require researchers policymaking move away static territories (such as path dependency or gradualism) towards dynamic one.

Language: Английский

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A 40-year assessment of a harvested sandy beach clam population: Environmental and economic drivers of a regime shift

Ocean & Coastal Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 263, P. 107613 - 107613

Published: March 4, 2025

Language: Английский

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