Integration of Science and Management What does it mean

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Integration of Science and Management What does
it mean?
Robert E. Bennetts Greater Yellowstone
Network and Southern Plains Network
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What does it mean?

• Stronger and more effective communication between
  science and management.
• Incorporating the information needs of management
  into our science planning and implementation.
• Making better use of science in the management
  and decision making processes.
• Note None of these are independent of the
  others.

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Stronger and more effective communication between
science and management.
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and many more good efforts!
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Incorporating the information needs of
management into our science planning and
implementation.
Lets Begin with an Example
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Incorporating the information needs of
management into our science planning and
implementation.
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Incorporating the information needs of
management into our science planning and
implementation.
Trend over a 10 year period.
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We Need a Management Context!
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There are two places where management is
typically incorporated into research and
monitoring
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There are two places where management is
typically incorporated into research and
monitoring
2nd
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There are two places where management is
typically incorporated into research and
monitoring
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So, how do we incorporate information needs of
management into monitoring design?
First, we must recognize that not all information
needs of management are conducive to monitoring
or even science solutions. But if it is ..
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Adapted from Schwartz (1998) and based partly on
terminology described in Shadish et al 2002.
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Incorporating management needs into the Design
Entails comparison of sampling (i.e.,
experimental) units that have been randomly
assigned to treatments
Controlled Experiments
Realm of Research
Degree of Control
Entails comparison of sampling units that have
not been randomly assigned to treatments (i.e.,
natural experiments)
Quasi- Experiments
Surveys that examine the association (e.g.,
comparisons/correlation) among variables or
groups.
Relational Surveys
Realm of Monitoring
Surveys that describe status or trend with no
assessment of relationships among variables or
groups
Descriptive Surveys
Strength of Causal Inference
Adapted from Schwartz (1998) and based partly on
terminology described in Shadish et al 2002.
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Answer Questions? We Cant use Monitoring To
Answer Questions. Why . That would be bordering
on RESEARCH!!!!!
Realm of Research
Realm of Monitoring
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???
Improved Precision
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Hello Purty Kitty
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You know if I were to account for
confounding sources of variation in my estimates,
I could improve precision within a given
sample size.
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???
Scope of Inference
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OK that ones red and that ones red
and that ones red. So GOLDFISH MUST BE RED.
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However, taking into account
representation From the entire population, fish
can Be several colors.
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Short Grass Prairie
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Short Grass Prairie
?
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Short Grass Prairie
?
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0.0124
BEOL
-0.0594
SAND
0.1491
FOUN
-0.0012
FOLA
0.0201
PECO
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Land Use History
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Grazing
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Fire
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Land Use History
Grazing
Fire
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Can these potentially be thought of as treatments
in a research context?
Yes
But if they are part of the landscape that occurs
in our park units, then they are also components
of the landscape that should legitimately be
represented in a survey design for monitoring!!!
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Making better use of science in the management
and decision making processes.
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Planning Process
Objectives Hierarchy
General Management Plans
Broad Vision or Mission
Park Foundation Statement
Resource Stewardship Strategies
Park-specific Desired Condition
Strategic Plans
Area/Zone-Specific Desired Condition
Implementation Plans
Resource Goals
Annual Performance Plans
Management objectives
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Space
Time
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And .. It is told that great herds once roamed
the West.
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Naturalist
Statistician
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Concepts that represent a State or Condition (or
sometimes a process) of the resource that we want
to avoid or maintain.
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Tools to evaluate the State or Condition (or
sometimes a process) that we want to avoid or
maintain.
Statistical Process Control
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Tools to evaluate the State or Condition (or
sometimes a process) that we want to avoid or
maintain.
Assessment Points
.. any point where we have determined a priori
that we want to assess the status or trend of a
resource(s) relative to program goals, natural
variation, or potential concerns and to determine
if management action(s) should be considered.
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We are NOT suggesting that the idea of
Assessment Points can or should replace other
concepts
Rather, we are suggesting that the idea of
Assessment Points can be used as a common
framework that would compliment these concepts,
and bring added value.
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Common Framework
They can be represented as points or zones along
a continuum
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Added Value
Are we There? Are we headed in the direction of
a point or zone of interest? How quickly will we
get there? What are the consequences if I reach
the point or zone of interest? Is there anything
I can do before we get there? What are the
consequences if I dont do anything?
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Standard
Alert Key Officials of Trajectory and Predicted
Time Frames
Alert Key Officials of Continued Trajectory
Management Actions as per NEPA and other laws,
regulations, and policies
Revise and Initiate Alternative Management
Actions as per
No Action Warranted at this Time
No Action Warranted at this Time
Consult with Experts Regarding Potential
Causes and Possible Actions
Consider or Investigate Potential Causes of
Trajectory
Possible Actions
Consider Potential Preventative Actions
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• Not dictated by policy or mandates
• (except where the assessment point coincides with
  other regulatory laws or policies)

• Decided by scientists and managers working in
  concert

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Integration of Science and Management What does
it mean?
Scientists and managers working together as
partners to facilitate a mutually beneficial and
effective relationship for science-based
decisions.

• Scientists striving to make the science more
  relevant to the information needs of management

• Managers trying to make better use of the
  science in the planning and decision processes.

• Scientists and Managers finding better ways to
  communicate with each other.

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Thank You!