Observation and Ecology: Broadening the Scope of Science to Understand a Complex World PDF
Preview Observation and Ecology: Broadening the Scope of Science to Understand a Complex World
Observation and Ecology Observation and Ecology BROADENING THE SCOPE OF SCIENCE TO UNDERSTAND A COMPLEX WORLD RAFE SAGARIN AND ANÍBAL PAUCHARD Washington Covelo London Copyright © 2012 Rafe Sagarin and Aníbal Pauchard All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher: Island Press, 1718 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009 Island Press is a trademark of The Center for Resource Economics. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sagarin, Rafe. Observation and ecology : broadening the scope of science to understand a complex world / Rafe Sagarin and Anibal Pauchard. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-1-59726-825-7 (cloth : acid-free paper) — isbn 1-59726-825-9 (cloth : acid-free paper) — isbn 978-1-59726-826-4 (paper : acid-free paper) — isbn 1-59726-826-7 (paper : acid-free paper) 1. Ecology—Methodology. 2. Ecology—Research. 3. Ecology—Study and teaching. 4. Observation (Scientific method). 5. Nature observation. 6. Biocomplexity. I. Pauchard, Anibal. II. Title. QH541.28.S23 2012 577.072—dc23 2012001570 Printed on recycled, acid-free paper Manufactured in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Keywords: Island Press, observational approaches to ecology, natural history, conservation biology, ecological science, citizen science, traditional ecological knowledge, local ecological knowledge, climate change, complex systems, social ecological science, education and policy in ecology. CONTENTS Foreword xi Acknowledgments xiii Introduction 1 PART I The Role of Observation in Ecological Science 13 1 An Observational Approach to Ecology 15 2 Observational Approaches in Historical Context 29 PART II Using Observations in Ecology 45 3 Using All the Senses in Ecology 47 4 Using Technology to Expand Our Observational Senses 63 5 Local, Traditional, and Accidental Ecological Observers and Observations 75 PART III The Challenges Posed by an Observational Approach 87 6 Dealing with Too Many Observations, and Too Few 89 7 Is Observation-Based Ecology Scientific? 109 PART IV Beyond Academia: The Power of Observational Approaches 131 8 Ecology’s Renewed Importance in Policy 133 9 Opening Nature’s Door to a New Generation of Citizens and Ecologists 151 Conclusions 167 References 177 About the Authors 199 About the Contributors 201 Index 205 BOXES 1.1 Natural History: The Taproot of Ecology 20 Thomas L. Fleischner 1.2 Citizen Science: Tracking Global Change with Public Participation in Scientific Research 25 Jake F. Weltzin 3.1 The Importance of Sensation 48 Geerat J. Vermeij 3.2 The Art of Ecology: How Field Notes and Sketches Offer Insights into Nature 54 Anne Salomon and Kirsten Rowell 5.1 Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Observation-Based Ecology 78 Gary Nabhan 6.1 Historical Records Shed Light on Biological Invasions 92 Julie Lockwood 6.2 The Rich Get Richer in Invasion Ecology 95 Tom Stohlgren 7.1 Changing Lenses to Observe, Conserve, and Co-Inhabit with Biodiversity: Serendipity at the Southern End of the Americas 115 Ricardo Rozzi 7.2 Models of Species Distributions Based on Observational Data 120 Erica Fleishman, Brett G. Dickson, Steven S. Sesnie, and David S. Dobkin 8.1 Observation and Policy: The Importance of Being There 135 Stuart Pimm ix BOXES 9.1 Observing Invasive Species and Novel Ecosystems in Urban Areas 156 Brendon Larson 9.2 Taking Akshen in Communities and the Environment with Mobile, Social, and Geospatial Technologies 160 Kristin D. Wisneski and Barron J. Orr x
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