Advance Innovative and Anticipatory Research

Vision 2A: Build the Intellectual and Technical Infrastructure for Ecology

Nina Sweppenheiser, Kelli Sheets,Brandis Mooney, Amanda Henry

Prepared for BIO 344 - Ecology at Wilkes University1 October 2004

Rationale

Understanding the science of ecologyLimitationsOther areas are more advanced

AR Action 1Fully scope and then promote the four pronged Ecological Research for Sustainability Initiative

Goal of Initiative

Develop research projects Have large scale experiment and data

collection Synthesize solutions Then link those solutions to real life Create a resource for a “responsive future

ecology”

To Sustain Ecosystems we need:

New ways of thinking of ideas New ways of testing ideas No limits Easily Obtain information Funds that support idea generation

NSF incubation grants

Support other initiatives and link with other Networks

Relevance to NE PA

NE PA consists of many ecological systems– Water Pollution-Mines

NE PA consists of research issues

Ecological Systems of NE PA

Mine Drainage Sites Watersheds Estuaries Forests

Wetlands Creeks Bogs

Research Issues in NE PA

Biotechnology Ecological Restoration Natural Resource Management Habitat Destruction and Reconstruction Species Extinction

Vision Relevance to Wilkes University

This specific vision initiative will have a positive impact on the approaches to research and the type of research done at Wilkes (expansion of research ideas)

– Senior Research Projects– Faculty Research

Will result in more advanced research in any ecological or scientific topic and will be supported with unlimited access to information and technological tools

Anticipatory Research

Case Study: Understanding exchanges between large rivers and their flood plains

– River-floodplain ecosystems are dynamic and biologically diverse– The movement of organic matter into and out of the floodplain is important to

humanity and wildlife– It would be to our benefit to fully understand the biological mechanics of this

habitat

Questions that need to be answered

In order to make sure there is enough water for both humans and the natural system, these questions need to be answered:– “Under what conditions and at what scales is the

floodplain a source of organic matter to the river?”– “Under what conditions and scales does the

floodplain store such matter?”

Questions Continued

– “Are there thresholds in physical processes, habitat connectivity, or biotic community composition that cause the system to change state, such that the floodplain releases rather than stores carbon?”

The answers to these questions are imperative to our understanding of how to “preserve and restore ecosystems along rivers.”

Vision Importance

The average American in the world today doesn’t have strong feelings towards furthering ecological research.

They don’t see it as affecting their every day lives. They may not see the consequences as being in the

foreseeable future. If educated somewhat on the issue, they may see

investing money in ecological research as chance.

Should anyone care?

“Ecological understanding rests on knowledge that is gained from multiple avenues, including experimentation, theory and modeling, comparative observations, long term study, and synthesis.”

Evidence and facts sell people Better technology and communication will provide

people with more proven facts that ecology is something that needs to be taken seriously

Should anyone care?

“Anticipatory research – to use novel ideas, powerful data acquisition and management tools, and new technology that is developed to prepare for and perhaps build defenses, against what is coming next.”

People need to be aware that the choices that they make today will affect the lives of their children and grandchildren

Our future lies in maintaining our environment Supporting new research methods and technology will

allow for discovery of new solutions or approaches to possible ecological threats of the future

Building Blocks

This vision is the “building blocks needed for a proactive and responsive future ecology.”

Stronger research methods and the ability to use higher technological resources will lead ecology beyond where it stands today

The first step in trying to change people’s ways of thinking is to show them straight out the cause and effect of a situation

There has to be a point where someone decides that this is an important issue and will carry support into the future

Sources

Ecological Visions Committee. (2004) Ecological Society of America. Ecological Science and Sustainability for a Crowded Planet. www.esa.org.