Monitoring Ecosystems in the Sierra Nevada: The Conceptual Model Foundation.

Manley, Patricia N.; Zielinski, William J.; Stuart, Claudia M.; Keane, John J.; Lind, Amy J.; Brown, Cathy; Plymale, Beth L.; Napper, Carolyn O.

Monitoring at large geographic scales requires a framework for understanding relationships between components and processes of an ecosystem and the human activities that affect them. We created a conceptual model that is centered on ecosystem processes, considers humans as part of ecosystems, and serves as a framework for selecting attributes for monitoring ecosystems in the Sierra Nevada. The model has three levels: 1) an ecosystem model that identifies five spheres (Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Sociocultural), 2) sphere models that identify key ecosystem processes (e.g., photosynthesis), and 3) key process models that identify the "essential elements" that are required for the process to operate (e.g., solar radiation), the human activities ("affectors") that have negative and positive effects on the elements (e.g., air pollution), and the "consequences" of affectors acting on essential elements (e.g., change in primary productivity). We discuss use of the model to select attributes that best reflect the operation and integrity of the ecosystem processes. Model details can be viewed on the web at http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/sncf/spam_report/index.htm (Appendix section).

ECOSYSTEM management; LIFE (Biology); HUMAN behavior; BIOSPHERE; PHOTOSYNTHESIS; SOLAR radiation

Environmental Monitoring & Assessment, 2000, Vol 64, Issue 1, p139

0167-6369

Academic Journal

10.1023/A:1006419624637