Beyond Description: Unlocking the Predictive Potential of African Ecology DOI
Luca Luiselli, Nic Pacini

African Journal of Ecology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 63(3)

Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Ecology's strength lies in its ability to explain and predict interactions between organisms their environment. However, African ecological research has historically been dominated by descriptive studies, focusing on biodiversity patterns, species distributions, behavioural observations or monitoring of large mammal populations (especially East savannahs). This pattern also traditionally characterised the studies community ecology. While valuable, these often fall short providing predictive insights essential for addressing pressing challenges such as climate change, ecosystem resilience. We advocate a paradigm shift ecology—moving beyond description hypothesis‐driven, research. Community ecology Africa can transcend documentation uncover mechanisms underlying processes integrating methodologies null models, Monte Carlo simulations modelling based upon data mining techniques. Predictive interactions, assembly functions have potential enhance both theoretical applied science, ensuring global relevance. Curriculum reforms statistics methodological training academic institutions will be crucial fostering this transformation. As Journal Ecology seeks champion transition, we urge researchers embrace frameworks that not only document but provide actionable into dynamics. could achieved re‐analysing long‐term sets published several less‐distributed journals, other languages than English. is critical positioning at forefront international discourse, driving impactful conservation management strategies.

Язык: Английский

Remote Sensing That Makes Sense in Ecological Research—From Pixels to Conservation DOI
Luca Luiselli, Nic Pacini

African Journal of Ecology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 63(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Advances in analytical techniques and the development of innovative remote sensing tools have greatly broadened scope ecological research. These advancements led to notable progress understanding geography study areas, with ground‐truthing capabilities enabled by GPS technologies revolutionising generation precise spatial data, such as organism locations. By linking data modelling, researchers can now gain insights into species‐environment relationships. This informs conservation strategies resource management. Recent technological innovations, including high‐resolution satellites provide detailed temporal information. The rapid growth these presents transformative opportunities for research biodiversity anywhere world. Moreover, calibration via field‐based spectral unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), handheld global positioning systems (GPS) ensures signal accuracy integrative platforms, like Google Earth Engine, streamline interpretation. However, integrating evidence from diverse ongoing challenges, requiring methodological precision a clear focus on their relevance. African Journal Ecology (AJE) has increasingly featured studies using sensing, applications spanning focusing land‐use change detection, habitat surveys, vegetation biomass assessment, water monitoring, species distribution. Combining field methods objectives fosters robust analysis, enabling move beyond simple land cover assessments tackle functional questions. Integrative platforms Engine simplify multi‐source interpretation, streamlining workflows increasing accessibility. Latin phrase ‘ Memento mori ’ should serve reminder that technology, while powerful aid research, is not everything—it support enhance inquiry, define or overshadow it. AJE aspires promote reflective thinking, fostering balance between innovation

Язык: Английский

Процитировано

2
Beyond Description: Unlocking the Predictive Potential of African Ecology DOI
Luca Luiselli, Nic Pacini

African Journal of Ecology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 63(3)

Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Ecology's strength lies in its ability to explain and predict interactions between organisms their environment. However, African ecological research has historically been dominated by descriptive studies, focusing on biodiversity patterns, species distributions, behavioural observations or monitoring of large mammal populations (especially East savannahs). This pattern also traditionally characterised the studies community ecology. While valuable, these often fall short providing predictive insights essential for addressing pressing challenges such as climate change, ecosystem resilience. We advocate a paradigm shift ecology—moving beyond description hypothesis‐driven, research. Community ecology Africa can transcend documentation uncover mechanisms underlying processes integrating methodologies null models, Monte Carlo simulations modelling based upon data mining techniques. Predictive interactions, assembly functions have potential enhance both theoretical applied science, ensuring global relevance. Curriculum reforms statistics methodological training academic institutions will be crucial fostering this transformation. As Journal Ecology seeks champion transition, we urge researchers embrace frameworks that not only document but provide actionable into dynamics. could achieved re‐analysing long‐term sets published several less‐distributed journals, other languages than English. is critical positioning at forefront international discourse, driving impactful conservation management strategies.

Язык: Английский

Процитировано

0