A Century of Ecosystem Science Planning Long-Term Research in the Gulf of Alaska (2002) / Chapter Skim
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3. Geographic Scope and Geographic Focus
3. Geographic Scope and Geographic Focus
Pages 37-51
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From page 37... ...
For instance, based on the program's main goals planners might elect to give disproportionate attention to particular habitat types, species, flows of energy or materials, or the consequences of specific perturbations. The third component of scope is determining generally "what" will be measured, which follows once the first two elements are agreed on and involves the selection of core long-term variables to measure.
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From page 38... ...
; however, the precise locations where prior data would be useful can shift over time. For instance, baseline data in Prince William Sound would be useful if another oil spill occurred there but it would not address eutrophication in Cook Inlet.
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From page 39... ...
In its interim report the committee recommended that GEM initiate long-term research in Prince William Sound, then extend geographic coverage over time. The rationale underlying this recommendation was the difficulty of designing a useful research plan for a broader area given limited funds, coupled with the utility of extending time series at the core of the area affected by the spill in 1989.
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From page 40... ...
HABITATS AS A DIVISIONAL UNIT Because of the tradeoff between geographic scope and intensity of research effort, science plans covering large areas must include methods for stratifying observations and allocating funds for short-term process studies. This focus can be provided in a number of ways.
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From page 41... ...
questions for continental shelf and nearshore areas, although these areas have different natural and anthropogenic forcing functions (Table 3-2~. Most importantly, the habitat divisions may set up a barrier to understanding links and transfers among habitats.
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From page 42... ...
For instance, "climate" is hypothesized to affect watershed production, but more specifically "wind stress, mixed layer depth, and downwelling" are hypothesized to affect production offshore. Some of the habitat variables of interest, which should reflect ecosystem functioning, are too general or inclusive to measure.
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From page 43... ...
Sampling protocols should be kept as constant as possible and if changes in technology occur, ample attention should be paid to inter-calibration of the time series. · Short-term process studies will give the GEM program some of the flexibility it needs; typically, requests for proposals for this type of work occur every one to two years, so that the focus can be changed in accordance with steering committee and community interests.
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From page 45... ...
Such linkages are necessary to provide managers with predictive models of the interrelated processes underlying ecosystem function to support wise decisions for managing resources. Because of the long time frame of GEM, it is critical that the core variables for monitoring be chosen with great care.
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From page 46... ...
. This strategy shows that GEM's mission and goals imply a broad conceptual foundation, from which will emerge hypotheses.
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From page 47... ...
For the GEM program enormous amounts of data already exist on the physical and biological features of the Gulf of Alaska, much of which has been generated by Trustee Council-supported research undertaken since the Exxon Valdez oil spill. At present these data have been gathered but have not been synthesized into a comprehensive, easily accessible database.
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From page 48... ...
While these proposal invitations must be derived from GEM's conceptual foundation to maintain program focus, it is critical that community input be incorporated into the proposal solicitation at this early stage of the program. Two ways that substantive community input could be obtained would be through the Public Advisory Committee and by holding a series of workshops covering variables for long-term measurements.
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From page 49... ...
The GEM Draft Plan proposes the identification, and filling, of gaps in our knowledge base (gap analysis) as a critical step for identifying core variables (Figure 3-2~.
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From page 51... ...
A research plan that incorporates meaningful community involvement would serve as a model for other programs grappling with how to address the concerns of resource managers and local communities into their science plans. (The value of community involvement is further discussed in Chapter 5.)
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