A framework for assessing coupling and de-coupling trajectories in river social-ecological systems

Quintas-Soriano, Cristina; Brandt, Jodi S.; Baxter, Colden V.; Bennett, Elena M.; Requena‐Mullor, Juan M.; Castro, Antonio Arjona

doi:10.1007/s11625-021-01048-0

Cited by 15 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 48 publications

(65 reference statements)

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“…Much of Idaho's human population occurs in urban‐to‐rural networks of mid‐sized cities that have tighter urban‐to‐rural feedback and less inertia to development than larger cities (Allen et al, 2016; Felt et al, 2018). Urbanization of agricultural land is the dominant land use change in Idaho, altering historical feedback between local resource production and consumption (Hubbard, 2017; Quintas‐Soriano et al, 2022). Our Ward's SEZs may be particularly useful for examining these trends.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping socio‐ecological systems in Idaho: Spatial patterns and analytical considerations

et al. 2022

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Policy interest in socio‐ecological systems has driven attempts to define and map socio‐ecological zones (SEZs), that is, spatial regions, distinguishable by their conjoined social and bio‐geo‐physical characteristics. The state of Idaho, USA, has a strong need for SEZ designations because of potential conflicts between rapidly increasing and impactful human populations, and proximal natural ecosystems. Our Idaho SEZs address analytical shortcomings in previously published SEZs by: (1) considering potential biases of clustering methods, (2) cross‐validating SEZ classifications, (3) measuring the relative importance of bio‐geo‐physical and social system predictors, and (4) considering spatial autocorrelation. We obtained authoritative bio‐geo‐physical and social system datasets for Idaho, aggregated into 5‐km grids = 25 km2, and decomposed these using principal components analyses (PCAs). PCA scores were classified using two clustering techniques commonly used in SEZ mapping: hierarchical clustering with Ward's linkage, and k‐means analysis. Classification evaluators indicated that eight‐ and five‐cluster solutions were optimal for the bio‐geo‐physical and social datasets for Ward's linkage, resulting in 31 SEZ composite types, and six‐ and five‐cluster solutions were optimal for k‐means analysis, resulting in 24 SEZ composite types. Ward's and k‐means solutions were similar for bio‐geo‐physical and social classifications with similar numbers of clusters. Further, both classifiers identified the same dominant SEZ composites. For rarer SEZs, however, classification methods strongly affected SEZ classifications, potentially altering land management perspectives. Our SEZs identify several critical regions of social–ecological overlap. These include suburban interface types and a high desert transition zone. Based on multinomial generalized linear models, bio‐geo‐physical information explained more variation in SEZs than social system data, after controlling for spatial autocorrelation, under both Ward's and k‐means approaches. Agreement (cross‐validation) levels were high for multinomial models with bio‐geo‐physical and social predictors for both Ward's and k‐means SEZs. A consideration of historical drivers, including indigenous social systems, and current trajectories of land and resource management in Idaho, indicates a strong need for rigorous SEZ designations to guide development and conservation in the region. Our analytical framework can be broadly applied in SES research and applied in other regions, when categorical responses—including cluster designations—have a spatial component.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping socio‐ecological systems in Idaho: Spatial patterns and analytical considerations

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“…(1) Integrated research on multiple processes. CHANSs are complex systems in which multiple natural and social processes interact and co-evolve (Quintas-Soriano et al, 2021), and therefore only focusing on one, or a few, of them may not reveal the essential laws behind complex phenomena (Fu et al, 2019). Multiscale systematic research quantifying the interactions among the hydrological, pedologic, atmospheric, biological, and socioeconomic processes is necessary to provide integrative and convincing guidance to achieve sustainability (Fu, 2020).…”

Section: Future Directions Of the Pattern-process-service-sustainability Paradigmmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(3) Feedback mechanisms of human and natural systems. Human and natural systems interact and co-evolve over time and have substantial impacts upon each other, with causality operating in both directions (Fu and Li, 2016;Quintas-Soriano et al, 2021). Understanding the complex interactions and feedbacks of CHANSs is one of the core research objectives in the field of sustainability.…”

Section: Future Directions Of the Pattern-process-service-sustainability Paradigmmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The coupled human and natural systems (CHANSs), which are also referred to as coupled human and earth systems, human and environment systems, and social-ecological systems, describe a complex phenomenon in which human processes and natural processes interact and co-evolve (Wang et al, 2018b;Quintas-Soriano et al, 2021;Ostrom, 2009;Liu et al, 2009;Fu and Wei, 2018;Cumming, 2014). In a natural system, the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and solid earth interact with each other, constantly exchanging materials, energy, and information (DeFries, 2008).…”

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Coupling Human and Natural Systems for Sustainability: Experiences from China’s Loess Plateau

Wang

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Abstract. Addressing the sustainability challenges facing humanity in the Anthropocene requires the coupling of human and natural systems, rather than their separate treatment. To understand the dynamics of a coupled human and natural system (CHANS) and promote its sustainability, we proposed a conceptual cascade framework of “Pattern-Process-Service-Sustainability”. The use of this framework was systematically illustrated by a review of CHANS research experiences in China’s Loess Plateau (LP) in terms of coupling landscape patterns and ecological processes, linking ecological processes to services, and promoting social-ecological sustainability. The LP is well-known for its historically notorious soil erosion and successful vegetation restoration achieved in recent decades. Vegetation coverage in the LP has increased since 2000 due to ecological restoration. Soil erosion has been well controlled and the sediment deriving from the LP, and flowing into the Yellow River, has greatly decreased; however, overplanting, the introduction of exotic plant species, and the mismanagement of planted vegetation have also led to soil drying in some areas. Ecosystem services, especially for soil conservation and carbon sequestration, have significantly improved, although a trade-off between carbon sequestration and water supply has been identified at multiple scales. Based on the comprehensive understanding of CHANS dynamics, targeted policy and management suggestions are here proposed to support the social-ecological sustainability of the LP. The research experience accumulated on the LP offers examples of the application of the “Pattern-Process-Service-Sustainability” framework. Future research using this framework should especially examine the integrated research of multiple processes, the cascades of ecosystem structure, function, services, and human-wellbeing, the feedback mechanisms of human and natural systems, and the data and models for sustainability.

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“…As riverscapes continue to be recognized as highly complex, dynamic social–ecological systems (SES) with a long history of human use, emerging applications can lead to stronger integration of social and ecological processes (Dunham et al ., 2018; Quintas‐Soriano et al ., 2021). Mapping and spatial analysis are also important tools of this emerging science (e.g.…”

Section: Envisioning and Communicating Informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Riverscape approaches in practice: perspectives and applications

et al. 2021

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Landscape perspectives in riverine ecology have been undertaken increasingly in the last 30 years, leading aquatic ecologists to develop a diverse set of approaches for conceptualizing, mapping and understanding ‘riverscapes’. Spatiotemporally explicit perspectives of rivers and their biota nested within the socio‐ecological landscape now provide guiding principles and approaches in inland fisheries and watershed management. During the last two decades, scientific literature on riverscapes has increased rapidly, indicating that the term and associated approaches are serving an important purpose in freshwater science and management. We trace the origins and theoretical foundations of riverscape perspectives and approaches and examine trends in the published literature to assess the state of the science and demonstrate how they are being applied to address recent challenges in the management of riverine ecosystems. We focus on approaches for studying and visualizing rivers and streams with remote sensing, modelling and sampling designs that enable pattern detection as seen from above (e.g. river channel, floodplain, and riparian areas) but also into the water itself (e.g. aquatic organisms and the aqueous environment). Key concepts from landscape ecology that are central to riverscape approaches are heterogeneity, scale (resolution, extent and scope) and connectivity (structural and functional), which underpin spatial and temporal aspects of study design, data collection and analysis. Mapping of physical and biological characteristics of rivers and floodplains with high‐resolution, spatially intensive techniques improves understanding of the causes and ecological consequences of spatial patterns at multiple scales. This information is crucial for managing river ecosystems, especially for the successful implementation of conservation, restoration and monitoring programs. Recent advances in remote sensing, field‐sampling approaches and geospatial technology are making it increasingly feasible to collect high‐resolution data over larger scales in space and time. We highlight challenges and opportunities and discuss future avenues of research with emerging tools that can potentially help to overcome obstacles to collecting, analysing and displaying these data. This synthesis is intended to help researchers and resource managers understand and apply these concepts and approaches to address real‐world problems in freshwater management.

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A framework for assessing coupling and de-coupling trajectories in river social-ecological systems

Cited by 15 publications

References 48 publications

Mapping socio‐ecological systems in Idaho: Spatial patterns and analytical considerations

Mapping socio‐ecological systems in Idaho: Spatial patterns and analytical considerations

Coupling Human and Natural Systems for Sustainability: Experiences from China’s Loess Plateau

Riverscape approaches in practice: perspectives and applications

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