Integrated Monitoring of Ecological Systems: A bibliography for students

In the last 15 years the main changes in this field are the following:

·         Framing the problem to be solved by the managers started in recent years to be a crucial step before the monitoring design.

·         There is a shift from unstructured holistic conceptual models to conceptual models based on models of specific (coupled) processes.

·         The interest in taking into consideration the monitoring for ecosystem services is operationalized by well-defined ecosystem services used by specific stakeholders. Their monitoring is approached by the key variables controlling the processes involved in the production of those ecosystem services.

·         Once the need for monitoring with its costs is accepted by the decision makers there are many different possible types of integrated monitoring corresponding the various management needs. There is now one single way to have an integrated monitoring of ecological systems.  One can switch from one type of integrated monitoring to another as the available data and knowledge about the ecological system change.

·         The classic separation between monitoring and research of ecological systems is now blurred. The standards of scientific design should be adopted in the monitoring design, including the publication of results in respected journals. Monitoring is conceived as driven by clear questions as much as possible. This has consequences on the institutional responsibilities for the monitoring, which should involve in key position respected scientific researchers.

·         In order to improve the efficiency of monitoring and increase the social acceptance of the costs currently there are many learning loops in the monitoring design and implementation.

·         Mathematical modeling of processes is an increasingly used tool from the definition of monitoring objectives to the optimization of monitoring design and to data interpretation.

·         There is a pressure, due to very large costs, on long-term ecological monitoring and research to become more efficient and effective. This led to the intensive use of statistical methods in the monitoring design and data interpretation.

·         “Rigorous design, implementation, and analysis for ecological monitoring are the wave of the future, destined to have the power of a tsunami. And the earthquake that spawns that tsunami is contained within the chapters of this book.” (Gitzen et al., eds, 2012). And in the literature listed here J
·      Approaches in post-normal science framework (Vădineanu and Vădineanu 2004) are separated from those in normal science framework. Most of the published literature is of a normal science type.

The listed books and articles can be downloaded from here for private use. In red are the most important sources. In blue are those available in Romanian.

They are listed following the structure proposed by Reynolds et al. (2016) in the figure below, with adaptations:

1 The integrated monitoring of ecological systems

·         Reynolds J. H., M. G. Knutson, K. B. Newman, E. D. Silverman, W. L. Thompson, 2016, A road map for designing and implementing a biological monitoring program, 188, 399

·         Honrado J. P., H. M. Pereira, A. Guisan, 2016, Fostering integration between biodiversity monitoring and modelling, Journal of Applied Ecology, 53, 1299-1304

·         Gitzen R. A., J. J. Millspaugh, A. B. Cooper, D. S. Licht (editori), 2012, Design and analysis of long-term ecological monitoring studies, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

·         De Blust G., G. Laurijssens, H. Van Calster, P. Verschelde, D. Bauwens, B. De Vos,  J. Svensson, R. Jongman, 2013, Design of a monitoring system and its cost-effectiveness, Alterra Report 2393, Wageningen

·         Lindenmayer D. B., G. E. Likens, 2010, The science and application of ecological monitoring, Biological Conservation, 143, 1317-1328

·         Lindenmayer D. B., G. E. Likens, 2009, Adaptive monitoring: a new paradigm for long-term research and monitoring, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 24, 482-486

·         Lindenmayer D. B., G. E. Likens, 2010, Improving ecological monitoring, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 25, 200-201

·         Ciolpan O., 2005, Monitoringul integrat al sistemelor ecologice, Ed. Ars Docendi, București
·    Vadineanu A., R. S. Vadineanu, 2004, Monitoringul integrat al dezvoltarii complexelor socio-ecologice, în Vădineanu A. (editor) Managementul Dezvoltării, Ed. Ars Docendi, 180-206, pdf

·         Parr T. W., M. Ferreti, I. C. Simpson, M. Forsius, E. Kovacs-Lang, 2002, Towards a long-term integrated monitoring programme in Europe: network design in theory and practice, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 78, 253-290

·         Vos P., E. Meelis, W. J. Ter Keurs, 2000, A framework for the design of ecological monitoring programs as a tool for environmental and nature management, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 61, 317-344

2 Problem formulation, objectives, conceptual models (influence diagrams)

·         Pocock M. J. O., et al., 2015, Developing and enhancing biodiversity monitoring programmes : a collaborative assessment of priorities, Journal of Applied Ecology, 52, 686-695

·         McDonald-Madden E., P. W. J. Baxter, R. A. Fuller, T. G. Martin, E. T. Game, J. Montambault, H. Possingham, 2011, Should we implement monitoring or research for conservation ?, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 26, 108-109

·         McDonald-Madden E., P. W. J. Baxter, R. A. Fuller, T. G. Martin, E. T. Game, J. Montambault, H. Possingham, 2010, Monitoring does not always count, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 25, 547-550

2.1 Monitoring for the management of ecosystem services: conceptual and methodological issues

·         Bennet E. M., W. Cramer, A. Begossi, G. Cundill, S. Diaz, B. N. Egoh, I. R. Geijzendorffer, C. B. Krug, S. Lavorel, E. Lazos, L. Lebel, B. Martin-Lopez, P. Meyerfroidt, H. A. Mooney, J. L. Nel, U. Pascual, K. Payet, et al., 2015, Linking biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being, three challenges for designing research for sustainability, Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 14, 76-85

·         Epelde L., J. M. Becerril, I. Alkorta, C. Garbisu, 2014, Adaptive long-term monitoring of soil health in metal phytostabilization: ecological attributes and ecosystem services based on soil microbial parameters, International Journal of Phytoremediation, 16, 971-981

·         Iordache V., F. Bodescu, 2005, Emergent properties of the Lower Danube River System: the consequences for the integrated monitoring system, Large Rivers, 16, 95-128

2.2  Legal/regulatory context and constraints

·         Beresford A. E., G. M. Buchanan, F. J. Sanderson, R. Jefferson, P. F. Donald, 2016, The contributions of the EU Nature Directives to the CBD and other multilateral environmental agreements, Conservation Letters, 9, 479-488

2.3 Using models for the specification of actions

·         Bastos R., A. Pinhacos, M. Santos, R. F. Fernandes, J. R. Vicente, F. Morinha, J. P. Honrado, P. Travassos, P. Barros, J. A. Cabral, 2016, Evaluating the regional cumulative impact of wind farms on birds: how can spatially explicit dynamic modelling improve impact assessments and monitoring ? Journal of Applied Ecology, 53, 1330-1340

2.4 Evaluation of costs

·         Geijzendorffer I. R., S. Targetti, M. K. Schneider, et al., 2016, How much would it cost to monitor farmland biodiversity in Europe ? Journal of Applied Ecology, 53, 140-149

·         Nygard H., S. Oinen, H. A. Hallfors, M. Lehiniemi, E. Rantjarvi, L. Uusitalor, 2016, Price vs. value of marine monitoring, Frontiers in Marine Science, 3, article 205

·         Perkins G. C., A. S. Kutt, E. P. Vanderduys, J. J. Perry, 2013, Evaluating the costs and sampling adequacy of a vertebrate monitoring program, Australian Zoologist, 36, 370-313

·         Caughlan L, K. L. Oakley, 2001, Cost considerations for long-term ecological monitoring, Ecological Indicators, 1, 123-134

3 Monitoring approaches to reach the objectives by specified actions

·         Heenan A., K. Gorospe, I. Williams, A. Levine, P. Maurin, M. Nadon, T. Olivier, J. Rooney, M. Timmers, S. Wongbusarakum, R. Brainard, 2016, Ecosystem monitoring for ecosystem-based management: using a polycentric approache to balance information trade-offs, Journal of Applied Ecology, 53, 699-704

3.1 Monitoring by type of ecosystem

·         Corona P., 2016, Consolidating new paradigms in large-scale monitoring and assessment of forest ecosystems, 2016, Environmental Research, 144, 8-14

·         Mueller M., J. Geist, 2016, Conceptual guidelines for the implementation of the ecosystem approach in biodiversity monitoring, Ecosphere, 7, e01305

·         Burton C., C. Chetkiewicz, 2015, Terrestrial ecological monitoring: a review and recommendations for Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire. Alberta Innovates -Technology Futures and Wildlife Conservation Society Canada.  54  pp

·         Folster J., R. K. Johnson, M. N. Futter, A. Wilander, 2014, The Swedish monitoring of surface waters: 50 years of adaptive monitoring, AMBIO, 43, 3-18

·         Tadaki M., G. Brierley, I. C. Fuller, 2014, Making rivers governable: ecological monitoring, power and scale, New Zealand Geographer, 70, 7-21

·         Hedge P., F. Molloy, H. Sweatman, K. Hayes, J. Dambacher, J. Chandler, M. Gooch, A. Chinn, N. J. Bax, T. Walshe,  2013  An integrated moni toring framework for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area , Department of the Environment, Canberra.

·         Hutto R. L., R. T. Belote, 2013, Distinguishing four types of monitoring based on the questions they address, Forest Ecology and Management, 289, 183-189

·         Eyre T. J., A. Fisher, L. P. Hunt, A. S. Kutt, 2011, Measure it to better manage it: a biodiversity monitoring framework for Australian rangelands, The Rangeland Journal, 33, 239-253

3.2 Selection of attributes

·         Proenca V, et al., 2016, Global biodiversity monitoring: from data sources to essential biodiversity variables, Biological Conservation, in press, corrected proof

·         Wurtzebach Z., C. Schultz, 2016, Measuring ecological integrity: history, practical applications, and research opportunities, BioScience, XX, 1-12

·         Primi R., G. Filibeck, A. Amici, et al., 2016, From Landsat to leafhoppers : a multidisciplinary approach for sustainable stocking assessment and ecological monitoring in mountain grasslands, Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment, 234, 118-133

·         Neckles H. A., J. E. Lyons, G. R. Guntenspergen, W. G. Shriver, S. C. Adamowitz, 2015, Use of structured decision making to identify monitoring variables and management priorities for salt marsh ecosystems, Estuaries and Coasts, 38, 1215-1232

·         Tulloch A., H. P. Possingham, K. Wilson, 2011, Wise selection of an indicator for monitoring the success of management actions, Biological Conservation, 144, 141-154

·         Jorgensen S. E., R. Constanza, F.-L. Xu, 2005, Handbook of Ecological Indicators for Assessment of Ecosystem Health, Taylor & Francis, CRC Press, Boca Raton

3.2.1 Use of species as indicators of disturbance

·         Battisti C., G. Fanelli, 2016, Applying indicators of disturbance from plant ecology to vertebrates: The hemeroby of bird species, Ecological Indicators 61, 799-805

·         Schmeller D. S., K. Henle, A. Loyau, A. Besnard, P.-Y. Henry, 2012, Bird-monitoring in Europe – a first overview of practices, motivations and aims, Nature Conservation, 2, 41-57

3.3 Selection of methods

·         Willis K. S., 2015, Remote sensing change detection for ecological monitoring in United States protected areas, Biological Conservation, 182, 233-242

·         Birk S., W. Bonne, A. Borja, S. Brucet, A. Courrat, S. Poikane, A. Solimini, W. van de Bund, N. Zampoukas, D. Hering, 2012, Three hundred ways to assess Europe’s surface waters: An almost complete overview of biological methods to implement the Water Framework Directive, Ecological Indicators, 18, 31-41-

3.3.1 Using models for survey design

·         Carvalho S. B., J. Goncalves, A. Guisan, J. P. Honrado, 2016, Systematic site selection for multispecies monitoring networks, Journal of Applied Ecology, 53, 1305-136

·         Vicente J. R, D. Alagador, C. Guerra, et al., 2016, Cost-effective monitoring of biological invasions under global change : a model-based framework, Journal of Applied Ecology, 53, 1317-1329

3.4 Data management

·         Sutter R. D., S. B. Wainscott, J. R. Boetsch, C. J. Palmer, D. J. Rugg, 2015, Practical guidance for integrating data management into long-term ecological monitoring projects, Wildlife Society Bulleting, 39, 451-463

·         Maas-Habner K. G., M. J. Harte, N. Molina, R. M. Hughes, C. Schreck, J. A. Yeakley, 2015, Combining and aggregating environmental data for status and trend assessment: challenges and approaches, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187, 278

4 Learn and revise

·         Geijzendorffer I. R., E. C. Regan, H. M. Pereira, et al., 2016, Bridging the gap between biodiversity data and policy reporting needs: and Essential Biodiversity Variables perspective, Journal of Applied Ecology, 53, 1341-1350