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Credit of ecological interactions: A new conceptual framework to support conservation in a defaunated world.

ABSTRACT: As defaunation spreads through the world, there is an urgent need for restoring ecological interactions, thus assuring ecosystem processes. Here, we define the new concept of credit of ecological interactions, as the number of interactions that can be restored in a focal area by species colonization or reintroduction. We also define rewiring time, as the time span until all the links that build the credit of ecological interactions of a focal area have become functional again. We expect that the credit will be gradually cashed following refaunation in rates that are proportional to (1) the abundance of the reintroduced species (that is expected to increase in time since release), (2) the abundance of the local species that interact with them, and (3) the traits of reintroduced species. We illustrated this approach using a theoretical model and an empirical case study where the credit of ecological interactions was estimated. This new conceptual framework is useful for setting reintroduction priorities and for evaluating the success of conservation initiatives that aim to restore ecosystem services.

SUBMITTER: Genes L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5355187 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Credit of ecological interactions: A new conceptual framework to support conservation in a defaunated world.

Genes Luísa L Cid Bruno B Fernandez Fernando A S FA Pires Alexandra S AS

Ecology and evolution 20170218 6

As defaunation spreads through the world, there is an urgent need for restoring ecological interactions, thus assuring ecosystem processes. Here, we define the new concept of <i>credit of ecological interactions</i>, as the number of interactions that can be restored in a focal area by species colonization or reintroduction. We also define <i>rewiring time</i>, as the time span until all the links that build the credit of ecological interactions of a focal area have become functional again. We e ...[more]

PMID: 28331596

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Project description:The causal pathways of stressors that lead to impacts on individuals, populations, and communities of organisms are useful to know for designing alternatives that manage or remediate ecological risks. The ecological risk assessment (ERA) framework (USEPA, 1998b) can help to identify and prioritize management of risks. One key product of the problem formulation step in an ERA, that captures and represents causal knowledge, is the conceptual site model (CSM). The CSM is a graphical depiction of the risk environment that traces the fate and transport pathways of contaminants from sources of contamination (e.g., a leaking storage tank) to receptors (i.e., the ecological endpoints of concern in the risk assessment). The CSM guides the development of methods for assessing ecological risk scenarios and for remediation design alternatives. The qualitative and quantitative aspects of Bayesian networks may support CSM development and risk characterization. Bayesian networks provide a graphical platform geared toward probabilistic modeling making them important candidates for calculating risks in environmental assessments. The diagrammatic representation of causal Bayesian networks (i.e., the directed acyclic graphs) also adds explanatory depth for developing the evidence-base for risk characterization and remediation interventions. We call these qualitative graphs conceptual Bayesian networks (CBNs). The components of CBNs can be used to represent the variables and relationships between sources of contamination, media transfer, bioaccumulation, and risk. The connections help to compose, piece together, and explore hypothesized relationships that bring about high-risk scenarios. Causal pathway analysis of the CBNs provides visualizations of exposure pathways from initial and intermediate sources to receptors. Remediation options that would interrupt or stop the transport of contaminants to ecological receptors can then be identified. Even if the CBN is not quantified, the structures can support mechanistic and statistical designs for exposure and effects analysis and risk characterization and evaluate information needs for resolving uncertainties. This paper will examine these and other unexplored benefits of CBNs to assessment and management of contaminated sites.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Smart homes are considered effective solutions for home health care for the elderly, as smart home technologies can reduce care costs and improve elderly residents' independence. To develop a greater understanding of smart homes for health care services (SHHSs), this study accentuated the necessity of ecological approaches with an emphasis on environmental constraints. This study was based on 2 rationales: (1) users are inclined to perceive the service quality and service experience from environments (ie, servicescape) owing to the intangibility of health care and the pervasiveness of smart home technologies, and (2) both service domains are complex adaptive systems in which diversified and undefined service experiences-not only a few intended service flows-can be generated by complex combinations of servicescape elements. OBJECTIVE:This study proposed the conceptual framework of a Smart Servicescape Wheel (SSW) as an ecological approach delineating the extensive spectrum of environmental constraints in SHHSs. METHODS:The SSW framework was established based on a literature review. RESULTS:Generally divided by perceptible and imperceptible servicescapes, the SSW consists of the perceptible Physical scape (ie, hardware components, environmental cues, and human states) and Social scape (ie, service relationships and social relationships) as well as the imperceptible Datascape (ie, computing intelligence, databases, and communication networks). Following the ecological approach, each category of the SSW is subdivided and defined at the level of components or functions. CONCLUSIONS:The SSW's strengths lie in the various application opportunities for SHHSs. In terms of service planning and development, the SSW can be utilized to (1) establish the requirements for SHHS development, (2) associate with work domain analysis by defining component layers, and (3) understand the real contexts of SHHSs for the enhanced prediction of diverse service experiences. Regarding service management, it can be applied to develop measurement items for the operation and evaluation of SHHSs.

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Credit of ecological interactions: A new conceptual framework to support conservation in a defaunated world.

Publications

Credit of ecological interactions: A new conceptual framework to support conservation in a defaunated world.

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