Experts, Expert Knowledge, and Their Roles in Landscape Ecological Applications

Perera, Ajith H.; Drew, C. Ashton; Johnson, Chris J.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-1034-8_1

Cited by 21 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Experts draw from their observations, readings, discussions, and other means, and offer opinions or specific knowledge about ecological patterns and processes (Perera et al 2012). The purported species-habitat relationships from these experts are viewed as working hypotheses that serve as priors describing the initial state of knowledge, but are rarely tested empirically (Clevenger et al 2002, Johnson and Gillingham 2004, Low-Choy et al 2009, Schlossberg and King 2009.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Suitability rankings were based on published studies, natural history, survey data, expert opinion, and field experiences (Hamel et al 1982, Hamel 1992). As such, Hamel's expert opinion was founded on synoptic knowledge (Perera et al 2012). Hamel's (1992) ranked vegetation types serve as guidelines for habitat conservation planning in the South Atlantic Coastal Plain of the United States.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Use of Occupancy Models to Evaluate Expert Knowledge-based Species-Habitat Relationships

Iglecia¹,

Collazo²,

McKerrow³

2012

ACE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

. 2012. Use of occupancy models to evaluate expert knowledge-based species-habitat relationships. Avian Conservation and Ecology 7(2): 5. http://dx.doi. org/10.5751/ACE-00551-070205 ABSTRACT. Expert knowledge-based species-habitat relationships are used extensively to guide conservation planning, particularly when data are scarce. Purported relationships describe the initial state of knowledge, but are rarely tested. We assessed support in the data for suitability rankings of vegetation types based on expert knowledge for three terrestrial avian species in the South Atlantic Coastal Plain of the United States. Experts used published studies, natural history, survey data, and field experience to rank vegetation types as optimal, suitable, and marginal. We used single-season occupancy models, coupled with land cover and Breeding Bird Survey data, to examine the hypothesis that patterns of occupancy conformed to species-habitat suitability rankings purported by experts. Purported habitat suitability was validated for two of three species. Research Papers Use of Occupancy Models to Evaluate ExpertAs predicted for the Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) and Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla), occupancy was strongly influenced by vegetation types classified as "optimal habitat" by the species suitability rankings for nuthatches and wood-pewees. Contrary to predictions, Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) models that included vegetation types as covariates received similar support by the data as models without vegetation types. For all three species, occupancy was also related to sampling latitude. Our results suggest that covariates representing other habitat requirements might be necessary to model occurrence of generalist species like the woodpecker. The modeling approach described herein provides a means to test expert knowledge-based species-habitat relationships, and hence, help guide conservation planning.RÉSUMÉ. Les relations espèces-habitat établies à partir des connaissances d'experts sont largement utilisées pour orienter la planification de la conservation, surtout lorsque les données sont rares. Ces relations présumées représentent les rudiments de la connaissance, mais sont rarement testées. L'adéquation du classement de milieux établi par des experts a été évaluée pour trois espèces de passereaux de la Plaine côtière de l'Atlantique Sud, aux États-Unis. Les experts ont utilisé des données publiées (recherches, histoire naturelle, relevés) et leur expérience sur le terrain afin de classer les milieux selon trois catégories, soit optimaux, adéquats ou marginaux. Nous avons appliqué des modèles de présence, fondés sur une seule saison, à des données d'occupation du sol et de relevés d'oiseaux nicheurs afin d'examiner l'hypothèse voulant que les profils de présence concordent avec le classement de la qualité des milieux présumé par les experts. La qualité présumée des milieux a été validée pour deux des trois espèces. Comme prédit pour le Pioui de l'Est (Contopus virens) et la Sittelle à t...

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Occupancy Models to Evaluate Expert Knowledge-based Species-Habitat Relationships

Iglecia¹,

Collazo²,

McKerrow³

2012

ACE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Nevertheless, the simulation model made use of published scientific data and knowledge of scientists (i.e., scientists with western training) to ensure sufficient rigour and accuracy in the model's function and outputs. In this respect, the model is distinguished from other models by placing emphasis on a balance between scientific and non-scientific knowledge sources (PetschelHeld et al 2005;Perera et al, 2012). Further, the model is not purely a physically based hydrologic model as in numerous developed models in the basin (e.g., de Condappa et al, 2008), Leemhuis et al, 2009;Jung et al, 2012;Amisigo et al, 2015;Awotwi et al, 2015), neither is it an exclusively socio-economic model.…”

Section: Research Aim and Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To determine the relative importance of these drivers of change, a structured expert judgement technique was employed (Meyer and Booker, 2001;Perera et al, 2012;Drescher et al, 2013). As noted by Turner (2015), sustainable water resources will need to be conserved and traded through changes in public policy that will involve scientific experts as well as laypersons.…”

Section: Data Sources and Driver Identification Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the purposes of this study, technical experts comprised of knowledgeable practitioners and researchers (Perera et al, 2012;Drescher et al, 2013) with extensive experience in agriculture and water resources related issues. As a register of qualified technical experts was unavailable in the VRB, the paper used a study design that combines multiple expert identification techniques including, web-based searches and professional networks directories (Drescher et al, 2013) to develop a sampling frame containing a pool of potential experts.…”

Section: Selection Of Technical Expertsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Systems thinking and modelling for sustainable water resources management and agricultural development in the Volta River Basin, West Africa

Kotir¹

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

It is well established that the conventional approaches to understanding and managing natural resource systems such as the traditional linear-reductionist and mechanistic approach founded on a positivistic understanding of science do not provide a sufficient framework for understanding the dynamic complexity and growing uncertainties inherent in most environmental systems. Dynamic complexity arises because such systems are: tightly coupled (components or drivers of the system interact with one another); governed by feedback; nonlinear; history dependent (making a choice precludes other options and determines the destiny); adaptive (decision rules change over time); counterintuitive (cause and effect are distant in time and space); and policy resistant. Despite the recognition of these complexities, there is still a lack of dynamic models that adequately integrate various physical, social, and economic factors and feedback processes that determine the current and future dynamics of most Social-ecological systems such as water resources management systems. There is, therefore, the need for an integrated system dynamics simulation model that adequately captures the non-linear interactions and feedback effects between the key system drivers to improve our understanding of the dynamic behaviour of water resource systems and evaluate the effects of different policy and management scenarios.The overall aim of this research was to develop computer-based integrated conceptual, dynamic and simulation models that can be used to support decision-making for sustainable water resources management and agricultural development in the Volta River Basin in West Africa. To this end, a systems-based/systems thinking approach was used as the theoretical framework. Systems dynamics approach grounded in the relativistic, holistic/pragmatist philosophical or methodological paradigm provided an appropriate modelling tool to capture the relationships between the key system variables and their dynamic behaviour over time. Overall, a three-tied research plan (mixed methods approach) was employed. A comprehensive literature review, structured expert judgement/surveys and interviews were used to explore and identify the key system drivers, factors, and processes that influence the sustainability of the river basin system. A participatory modelling approach was employed where the system expert stakeholders from academia, NGOs, government, and private consultants were engaged in developing an integrated qualitative conceptual model that described the causal systemic feedback processes operating between the biophysical, environmental, and socio-economic drivers of the system. Based on the conceptual model, a formal quantitative simulation model was then developed using a system dynamics simulation approach, allowing different policy scenarios and strategies to be identified and tested. Besides the baseline or business as usual scenario, three additional policy scenarios were designed and simulated to explore ii alternative futures, incl...

show abstract

Towards a continent‐wide ecological site condition database using calibrated expert evaluations

White

Hollings

Sinclair

et al. 2022

Ecological Applications

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A cost‐effective way of undertaking comprehensive, continental‐scale, assessments of ecological condition is needed to support large‐scale conservation planning, monitoring, reporting, and decision‐making. Currently, cross‐jurisdictional inconsistency in assessment methods limits the capacity to scale‐up monitoring. Here we present a novel way to build a coherent continent‐wide site‐level ecological condition dataset, using cross‐calibration methods to integrate assessments from many observers. We focus on the use of condition assessments from individual expert observers, a currently untapped resource. Our approach has two components: (1) a simple online tool that captures expert assessments at specific locations; (2) a process of calibrating and rescaling disparate expert evaluations that can be applied to the data to provide a consistent dataset for use in conservation assessments. We describe a pilot study, involving 28 experts, who contributed 314 individual site condition assessments across a wide range of ecosystems and regions throughout continental Australia. A correction factor for each expert was used to rescale the contributed site condition assessment scores, based on a set of 77 photographic images, each scored for their condition by multiple experts, using a linear mixed model. Our approach shows strong promise for delivering the volumes of data required to develop continental‐scale reference libraries of site condition assessments. Although developed from expert elicitation, the approach could also be used to harmonize the collation of existing condition datasets. The process we demonstrate can also facilitate online citizen scientists to make site condition assessments that can be cross‐calibrated using contributed images.

show abstract

Experts, Expert Knowledge, and Their Roles in Landscape Ecological Applications

Cited by 21 publications

References 19 publications

Use of Occupancy Models to Evaluate Expert Knowledge-based Species-Habitat Relationships

Use of Occupancy Models to Evaluate Expert Knowledge-based Species-Habitat Relationships

Systems thinking and modelling for sustainable water resources management and agricultural development in the Volta River Basin, West Africa

Towards a continent‐wide ecological site condition database using calibrated expert evaluations

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About