rangeland ecosystems shift across dynamic thresholds between differentecological states in response to natural or human-induced factors. these differentecological states are the result of interactions among climate, soils, grazing history,and management practices. the notion of a single ‘‘pristine’’ final state is onlyconceptual in nature, and because of this, dynamic thresholds and the effects...

Ecological networks are a useful tool to study the complexity of biotic interactions at a community level. Advances in the understanding of network patterns encourage the application of a network approach in other disciplines than theoretical ecology, such as biodiversity conservation. So far, however, practical applications have been meagre. Here we present a framework for network analysis to ...

The European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires EU Member States (MS) to achieve Good Environmental Status (GEnS) of their seas by 2020. We address the question of what GEnS entails especially with regard to the level at which targets are set (descriptors, criteria, indicators), to scales for assessments (regional, sub-divisions, site-specific), and to difficulties in putting i...

human activities often adversely affect natural landscapes and ecosystems. natural landscapes consist of habitats, and habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats to biodiversity. environmental impact assessment (eia)as a systematic and well documented procedure to identify, describe and assess the direct and indirect effects of a developmental project in different environments does not co...

1) Ecosystem indicators are a way of reducing ecosystem complexity into a form that is most informative and useful to management. As a means of turning data into information, indicators are ultimately a communication tool facilitating science-based governance, i.e. the sustainable use of WCPO tuna resources and the conservation of associated species. 2) One framework suggested for the developme...

There are many types of indicators, including those of the physical environment (e.g., climate), ecological, and socio-economic conditions. There is an entire professional journal devoted to the topic, called Ecological Indicators. Within marine systems, the most recent focus has been on developing indicators for ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM). Significant recent literature on this...

Acknowledging ecological interactions, such as predation, is key to an ecosystem approach to fisheries. Trophodynamic indicators are needed to measure the strength of the interactions between the different living components, and of structural ecosystem changes resulting from exploitation. We review trophodynamic indicators derived from models, as well as from emergent patterns such as trophic c...

The ability to understand and ultimately predict ecosystem response to multiple pressures is paramount to successfully implement ecosystem-based management. Thresholds shifts and nonlinear patterns in ecosystem responses can be used to determine reference points that identify levels of a pressure that may drastically alter ecosystem status, which can inform management action. However, quantifyi...

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of type of players on ecosystem accounting system using structural equations. In total, 84 activists in the field of environmental accounting (ecosystem) were selected through convenience sampling. Subjects filled the 22-item questionnaire of components of actor network and the 25-item questionnaire of ecosystem accounting. Given the fact that the signifi...