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Journal article
Looking forward through the past: identification of 50 priority research questions in palaeoecology
The Journal of ecology, v 102(1), pp 256-267
Jan 2014
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Priority question exercises are becoming an increasingly common tool to frame future agendas in conservation and ecological science. They are an effective way to identify research foci that advance the field and that also have high policy and conservation relevance. To date, there has been no coherent synthesis of key questions and priority research areas for palaeoecology, which combines biological, geochemical and molecular techniques in order to reconstruct past ecological and environmental systems on time-scales from decades to millions of years. We adapted a well-established methodology to identify 50 priority research questions in palaeoecology. Using a set of criteria designed to identify realistic and achievable research goals, we selected questions from a pool submitted by the international palaeoecology research community and relevant policy practitioners. The integration of online participation, both before and during the workshop, increased international engagement in question selection. The questions selected are structured around six themes: human-environment interactions in the Anthropocene; biodiversity, conservation and novel ecosystems; biodiversity over long time-scales; ecosystem processes and biogeochemical cycling; comparing, combining and synthesizing information from multiple records; and new developments in palaeoecology. Future opportunities in palaeoecology are related to improved incorporation of uncertainty into reconstructions, an enhanced understanding of ecological and evolutionary dynamics and processes and the continued application of long-term data for better-informed landscape management.Synthesis. Palaeoecology is a vibrant and thriving discipline, and these 50 priority questions highlight its potential for addressing both pure (e.g. ecological and evolutionary, methodological) and applied (e.g. environmental and conservation) issues related to ecological science and global change.
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Details
- Title
- Looking forward through the past: identification of 50 priority research questions in palaeoecology
- Creators
- Alistair W. R. Seddon - University of OxfordAnson W. Mackay - University College LondonAmbroise G. Baker - University of OxfordH. John B. Birks - University of BergenElinor Breman - University of OxfordCaitlin E. Buck - University of SheffieldErle C. Ellis - University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyCynthia A. Froyd - Swansea UniversityJacquelyn L. Gill - Brown UniversityLindsey Gillson - University of Cape TownEdward A. Johnson - University of CalgaryVivienne J. Jones - University of BergenStephen Juggins - Newcastle Univ, Sch Geog Polit & Sociol, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU, Tyne & Wear, EnglandMarc Macias-Fauria - University of OxfordKeely Mills - Univ Loughborough, Dept Geog, Ctr Hydrol & Ecosyst Sci, Loughborough LE11 3TU, Leics, UruguayJesse L. Morris - University of HelsinkiDavid Nogues-Bravo - University of CopenhagenSurangi W. Punyasena - University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignThomas P. Roland - University of SouthamptonAndrew J. Tanentzap - York UniversityKathy J. Willis - University of OxfordMartin Aberhan - Museum Nat Kunde, Leibniz Inst Res Evolut & Biodivers, D-10115 Berlin, GermanyEline N. van Asperen - Liverpool John Moores UniversityWilliam E. N. Austin - University of St AndrewsRick W. Battarbee - University College LondonShonil Bhagwat - University of OxfordChristina L. Belanger - South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyKeith D. Bennett - Queen's University BelfastHilary H. Birks - University of BergenChristopher Bronk Ramsey - Oxford ArchaeologyStephen J. Brooks - Natural History MuseumMark de Bruyn - Bangor UniversityPaul G. Butler - Bangor UniversityFrank M. Chambers - University of GloucestershireStewart J. Clarke - Natural EnglandAlthea L. Davies - University of St AndrewsJohn A. Dearing - University of SouthamptonThomas H. G. Ezard - University of SouthamptonAngelica Feurdean - Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research CentreRoger J. Flower - University College LondonPeter Gell - Univ Ballarat, Ctr Environm Management, Ballarat, Vic 3353, AustraliaSonja Hausmann - Drexel University, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel UniversityErika J. Hogan - Loughborough UniversityMelanie J. Hopkins - Museum für NaturkundeElizabeth S. Jeffers - University of OxfordAtte A. Korhola - University of HelsinkiRobert Marchant - University of YorkThorsten Kiefer - Past Global ChangesMariusz Lamentowicz - Adam Mickiewicz University in PoznańIsabelle Larocque-Tobler - LAKES Inst, CH-3250 Lyss, SwitzerlandLourdes Lopez-Merino - Brunel Univ, Inst Environm, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, Middx, EnglandLee H. Liow - University of OsloSuzanne McGowan - University of NottinghamJoshua H. Miller - University of CincinnatiEncarni Montoya - The Open UniversityOliver MortonSandra Nogue - University of OxfordChloe Onoufriou - Natural Environment Research CouncilLisa P. Boush - University of AkronFrancisco Rodriguez-Sanchez - University of CambridgeNeil L. Rose - University College LondonCarl D. Sayer - University College LondonHelen E. Shaw - Lancaster UniversityRichard Payne - University of StirlingGavin Simpson - University of ReginaKadri Sohar - University of TartuNicki J. Whitehouse - South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyJohn W. Williams - Univ Wisconsin, Dept Geog, Madison, WI 53706 USAAndrzej Witkowski - University of Szczecin
- Publication Details
- The Journal of ecology, v 102(1), pp 256-267
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- British Ecological Society NRCF010002; NE/J018562/1; NE/J018163/1 / NERC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) 1257508 / Division Of Environmental Biology; Direct For Biological Sciences; National Science Foundation (NSF); NSF - Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) Biodiversity Institute at the Oxford Martin School, Past Global Changes (PAGES) NE/J018163/1; NRCF010002; NE/J018562/1; ceh010010 / Natural Environment Research Council; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Quaternary Research Association 1023724 / Directorate For Geosciences; Division Of Earth Sciences; National Science Foundation (NSF); NSF - Directorate for Geosciences (GEO)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000328555600028
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84890286410
- Other Identifier
- 991021876910504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Ecology
- Plant Sciences