Browsing by Subject "conceptual models"

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    Building Ecosystem Services Conceptual Models
    (2018-09-05) Olander, Lydia; Mason, Sara; Warnell, Katie; Tallis, Heather
    Funders and developers of infrastructure projects and businesses and managers overseeing critical natural resources are becoming increasingly aware of and interested in ecosystem services. Although methods for incorporating ecosystem services into decisions have been established through academic research, practical guidance for how to do so in the quick, simple, transparent, and low-cost, feasible ways often required for widespread implementation are just now under development. One tool that can support widespread implementation is the use of ecosystem services conceptual models, which can underpin both simple and complex methods while helping to improve consistency and credibility. These conceptual models link changes caused by an external stressor or intervention through the ecological system to socio-economic and human well-being outcomes. Ecosystem services conceptual models can be developed for any given site and intervention or created as reference models for a general type of intervention across sites. This report facilitates development and use of evidence-based ecosystem services conceptual models in federal decision making by presenting a “how-to” guide and illustrative examples.
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    Current State of and Future Opportunities for Prediction in Microbiome Research: Report from the Mid-Atlantic Microbiome Meet-up in Baltimore on 9 January 2019.
    (mSystems, 2019-10) Sakowski, Eric; Uritskiy, Gherman; Cooper, Rachel; Gomes, Maya; McLaren, Michael R; Meisel, Jacquelyn S; Mickol, Rebecca L; Mintz, C David; Mongodin, Emmanuel F; Pop, Mihai; Rahman, Mohammad Arifur; Sanchez, Alvaro; Timp, Winston; Vela, Jeseth Delgado; Wolz, Carly Muletz; Zackular, Joseph P; Chopyk, Jessica; Commichaux, Seth; Davis, Meghan; Dluzen, Douglas; Ganesan, Sukirth M; Haruna, Muyideen; Nasko, Dan; Regan, Mary J; Sarria, Saul; Shah, Nidhi; Stacy, Brook; Taylor, Dylan; DiRuggiero, Jocelyne; Preheim, Sarah P
    Accurate predictions across multiple fields of microbiome research have far-reaching benefits to society, but there are few widely accepted quantitative tools to make accurate predictions about microbial communities and their functions. More discussion is needed about the current state of microbiome analysis and the tools required to overcome the hurdles preventing development and implementation of predictive analyses. We summarize the ideas generated by participants of the Mid-Atlantic Microbiome Meet-up in January 2019. While it was clear from the presentations that most fields have advanced beyond simple associative and descriptive analyses, most fields lack essential elements needed for the development and application of accurate microbiome predictions. Participants stressed the need for standardization, reproducibility, and accessibility of quantitative tools as key to advancing predictions in microbiome analysis. We highlight hurdles that participants identified and propose directions for future efforts that will advance the use of prediction in microbiome research.
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    Ecosystem Services Conceptual Model Application: Bureau of Land Management Solar Energy Development
    (2018-09-05) Warnell, Katie; Olander, Lydia; Mason, Sara
    Interest in using ecosystem services to integrate considerations of people and the environment continues to grow in federal agencies. One method that can help agencies incorporate ecosystem services into decision making is the use of ecosystem services conceptual models, which link changes in biophysical systems caused by an intervention to human well-being outcomes. Evidence-based ecosystem services conceptual models can provide efficiency and consistency in application, transitioning ecosystem services from an interesting concept to an actionable approach for natural resource management. Despite the potential usefulness of these models, there are few examples available to build from and little published detail on how to implement them. This report provides an example of an ecosystem services conceptual model for solar energy development on lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management. The Bureau of Land Management wants to facilitate solar energy development on suitable land in the southwestern United States while minimizing negative impacts on social, cultural, and ecological systems. With agency staff, researchers at Duke's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Solutions developed a model that captures the potential outcomes of the installation and operation of solar energy facilities on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. An accompanying evidence library provides a summary of the currently available evidence for each relationship in the model and an assessment of the strength of that evidence. The ecosystem services conceptual models could improve and help to streamline environmental assessments and help the Bureau of Land Management achieve its socio-economic strategy.