The Science of Open Spaces: Theory and Practice for Conserving Large, Complex Socio-Ecological Systems. Charles Curtin Center for Large Landscape Conservation Bozeman, MT

“Getting to Scale”

Climate Land-use Global Change

Summary of Core Points •Systems are more than the sum of their parts. A complex systems approach is essential when working in large landscapes. •Matching scale is essential to developing relevant science and policy. •Integrating social and ecological design is essential in developing large scale experiments and management. •Contrasting multiple systems and perspectives is essential for addressing environmental and social change.

Summary of Core Points •Systems are more than the sum of their parts. •Matching scale is essential for developing relevant science and policy. •Integrating social and ecological design is essential for sustaining large, complex systems. •Contrasting multiple systems and perspectives is essential for addressing environmental and social change. •Role of intellectual path dependency in influencing theory and practice.

Route of This Talk •Foundations of a science of open spaces. •Case study from Southwestern •Ecosystems. •Implications of complex interactions in rangelands. •Synthesis of talk lessons for large scale science, conservation, and management.

Alternative Paradigms in Conservation and Resource Management. •Complexity-Based •Trans Disciplinary •Trans System

Complexity and Chaos as Theoretical Foundations of Conservation and Natural Resource Management.

What’s Theory and What’s Practice?

Practice Theory

Mckenzie et al. 2011

Example From the Role of Fire…

Downscale

Upscale

Solving the Science and Policy Paradox.

Most of the World…

Learning to Work In the Messy Middle…

Trans Disciplinary Perspective with a True Synthesis of Socio-Ecological Perspectives and Not “Parallel Play.”

Some Things Don’t Change…

Trans Boundary Spanning - Multiple Systems.

Essential to Look Over the Fence at Other Systems. Learn from other situations, rather than “reinventing the wheel”….

Conserving the Ecology and Culture of Southwestern Rangelands.

Southwest Ecology – Foundation Natural History and Experimental Science.

Desert or Desertified?

Influence of Land Tenure on Research Design and Ecological Paradigms.

Preconditions: •Ability to Study Complex Interactions. •Burning When Fire Naturally Occurs. •Grazing Patterns Similar Ranching. •Intact Ecosystem. •A Scale That is Relevant to Reality.

The Malpai Borderlands

2 million acres

The Borderlands: A Cultural and Ecological Cross-Roads: At the junction of two countries, four states, and six biomes.

9,000 ft.

6,000 ft.

4,000 ft.

Diversity of Habitats Distributed Across Elevation.

Focus on mid-elevation grasslands

Faraway Ranch 1912. Arizona Historical Society # 63653.

Faraway Ranch 1999.

Accelerating Rates of Ecological Change.

Curtin and Brown 2001

Illustration of Southwestern Transformation and Shifting Baselines.

Borderlands Vegetation Model (Mid Elevation Sites)

Interactions of Climate, Fire, and Grazing?

xperimental Landscape-Level udies.

cKinney ats

amond A Ranch, ew Mexico 800 ac)

Pasture Fence

Rainfall Gradient 12” 8”

Grazed/Unburned Ungrazed/Unburned Grazed/Burned Ungrazed/Burned Grazed/Prairie Dog

Experimental Design.

Distribution of Plots on the Landscape.

Courtesy of Kevin Baker

Prairie Dogs

1893 1993

Repeat Photography Courtesy of Ray Turner/Animas Foundation

Primarily Composed of Native Vegetation: The Primary Pieces Still Exist.

Treatment Variables

Fire Native Grazers Large Grazers

Response Variables

Primary Production Primary Consumers Secondary Consumers

.

Sample of Results from Large Scale (0.5 x 1 km) Fire- Grazing Treatments.

• 30,000 Worker Ants Captured. • Two Sampling Sessions (June and July). • 18 Species Captured belonging to 13 genera.

Response of Ants to Fire and Grazing?

Ant Response to Fire and Grazing •Total Ant Biomass: P = 0. 30 (DF = 5). • Neither Grazing or Burning has an Effect by Themselves (P = 0.6). Burning x Grazing has a Strong Interaction (0.02). • Fraction of Harvester Ant Biomass was Higher on Ungrazed Plots (P = 0.001).

• Burned plots - the areas outside the exclosures had higher diversity then within (P < 0.0008). • Unburned plots - the inside the exclosures had higher diversity (P < 0.01).

Outcome of Interactions with Grazers and Fire

Sample of Results From 36 x 36 m Mammal Exclosures.

Exclosures Include: •Small Mammals (Hardware Cloth) •Rabbits (Chicken Wire) •Antelope & Deer (High/Low Three Strand) •Cattle (Five Strand)

Exclosure Study - Experimental Design.

Complex Herbivore – Fire interactions.

Complex Herbivore – Fire interactions.

Complex Herbivore – Fire interactions.

Complex Herbivore – Fire interactions.

Herbivore-Fire Interactions Influence Ecotonal Boundaries.

Desert Species Black Grama (B. eriopoda). Plains Species Blue Grama (B. gracilis).

Davidson et al. 2010

Model of Grassland Ecosystems, Derived From Composites of Existing Data and Perceptions.

Implications of Land Tenure and Settlement for Science and Policy. Evolution of a Paradigm Federal Lands Do Not Exist At Random - Skewed Perspective?

Land Tenure Practice Research Theory

Back to the Big Picture.

Take Home Messages: i) Scale makes a difference: Large-scale experiment offers significant new insights. ii) Understanding interactive effects is crucial for both basic biology and management. iii) The need to consider large scale interactions demonstrates the importance of considering social as well as ecological design factors.

Overarching Insights for Conserving Open Spaces.

Large Systems are Complex.

Global

Local

Landscape Complexity

Complexity and the Necessity of Working at Mid-Scales.

Implications of Working at Mid-Scales for Anticipating Global Change.

Tipping points

Matching Scales is Essential for Effective Science and Policy Outcomes.

Intellectual Path Dependency Profoundly Influences the Outcome of Science, Conservation, and Natural Resource Management.

Socio-ecological Design

Science Practice Policy

Role of Boundary Spanning to Address Large, Complex Problems.

Governance

Because of the Complexity of Environmental Challenges, Nested Approaches to Science and Policy are Essential.

Because of the Complexity of Environmental Challenges, Nested Approaches to Science and Policy are Essential.

Coupled Ecology, Policy and Governance Design Expand Science, Conservation, and Management’s Frontiers…

Questions?