Connecting Ecology and Social Science

The consequences of species redistribution will impact societies world-wide that depend on healthy ecosystems. How best can science support the management of these major climate change impacts on societies?

In a review in Biological Reviews, scientists argue that with targeted interdisciplinary engagement and by working with managers, local communities and the public, there are significant opportunities to address research challenges in species redistribution and mitigate its effects.

The paper is led by Professor Timothy Bonebrake and co-authored by NORDECO staff.

“Traditional research paradigms are ill-suited to respond adequately to the global and far-reaching effects of species redistribution” explained Dr Bonebrake. “Ecologists, for example, need to go beyond studying how global warming will change a given species. Ecologists need to determine whether there are immediate natural resource management actions that can be taken and whether a given species redistribution will affect associated ‘ecosystem services’.”

More information:

Bonebrake, T. et al. 2017. Managing consequences of climate-driven species redistribution requires integration of ecology, conservation and social science. Biol. Rev. Doi: 10.1111/brv.12344.