Conceptual models as hypotheses in monitoring urban landscapes.

摘要: Many problems and challenges of ecosystem management currently are driven by the rapid pace spatial extent landscape change. Parks reserves within areas high human population density especially challenged to meet recreational needs local populations preserve valued environmental resources. The complex problem managing multiple objectives resources requires an enormous quantity information, conceptual models have been proposed as tools for organizing interpreting this information. Academics generally prefer a bottom-up approach model construction that emphasizes ecologic theory process, whereas managers often use top-down takes advantage existing information address more pragmatic objectives. authors propose formal process developing, applying, testing be used in monitoring reconciles these seemingly opposing perspectives. four-step embraces role hypothesis development evaluation their utility. An example application network national parks around Washington, DC illustrates ability systematically identify data would both advance inform decisions.