Assessing ecological integrity: A multi-scale structural and functional approach using Structural Equation Modeling

摘要: Abstract Facing increasing levels of ecosystem degradation, scientists and practitioners aim to preserve ecological integrity — maintain structures functions expected ecosystems in a region. This requires an understanding the relationship between structural components functional integrity. In this paper we focused on study forests Credit River Watershed (Southern Ontario, Canada). For consider one major contributors integrity: habitat which are defined as capacity provide refuge reproduction wild species plants animals. We define these ‘habitat functions’ latent variable Structural Equation Modeling, allows us examine its with number candidate indicators. first determined two community-level indicators represent variable: native plant cover forest bird abundance. then found underlying causal relationships multi-scale provision functions. Three variables at local scale explain soil nitrogen, organic matter, pH. A significant landscape-level variable, patch area, explained cover. Percent natural land 500 m radius From theoretical point view, modeling technique explore complex simultaneous interactions ecosystems. As for practical applications, it can be used improve monitoring programs by contributing selection meaningful