A Guidebook for Integrated Ecological Assessments

Ecological assessments are a critical component of land management planning and regulatory decision-making. In the United States, for example, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 directs that the environmental consequences associated with proposed management of federal lands be fully disclosed to the general public through environmental impact assessments. In a similar manner, over 40 other countries have legislated the use of some type of ecological assessment as a prerequisite for effective environmental planning and land management.
Although ecological assessments can be conducted at a variety of spatial scales and may address one or many issues, the main intent of this book is to describe topics with particular importance to strategic integrated ecological assessments at a regional or subregional scale.
The chapters in this book range from overviews of basic ecological principles, to suggestions concerning ecosystem characterization and analysis, to systematic reviews of selected case studies. In this respect, the book provides both theoretical and practical advice for future ecological assessments given specific land use planning objectives.
This book will be the reference standard for any person engaged in any ecological assessment exercise at any level, whether they work for national, state or regional authorities or in academia.
Contents

Introduction: Integrating Ecological Assessments - Mark E. Jensen and Patrick S. Bourgeron.
A. BASIC PRINCIPLES.
1. An Overview of Ecological Assessment Principles and Applications - Mark E. Jensen, Norman L. Christensen, Jr., and Patrick S. Bourgeron. 2. A Theoretical Framework for Ecological Assessment - S.J. Turner and Alan R. Johnson. 3. Ecosystem Characterization and Ecological Assessments - Patrick S. Bourgeron, Hope C. Humphries, and Mark E. Jensen. 4. Adaptive Ecosystems Assessment and Management: The Path of Last Resort? - S.S. Light.
B. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT.
5. Data Acquisition - Thomas J. Stohlgren. 6. Sampling Design and Statistical Inference for Ecological Assessment - Brian M. Steele. 7. General Data Collection and Sampling Design Considerations for Integrated Regional Ecological Assessments - Patrick S. Bourgeron, Hope C. Humphries, and Mark E. Jensen. 8. Ecological Data Storage, Management and Dissemination - Ray Ford. 9. Integration of Physical, Biological and Socio-economic Information - D. Scott Slocombe.
C. BASIC TECHNOLOGIES.
10. Remote Sensing Applied to Ecosystem Management - Henry M. Lachowski and Vicky C. Johnson. 11. Geographic Information Science and Ecological Assessment - Janet Franklin. 12. Decision Support for Ecosystem Management and Ecological Assessments - H. Michael Rauscher and Walter D. Potter.
D. ANALYTICAL METHODS -- CONCEPTS.
13. Elements of Spatial Data Analysis in Ecological Assessments - Patrick S. Bourgeron and Marie-José Fortin and Hope C. Humphries. 14. Applications of Fractal Geometry and Percolation Theory to Landscape Analysis and Assessments - Bai-Lian Li. 15. Fuzzy Statistical and Modeling Approach to Ecological Assessments - Bai-Lian Li. 16. Measuring Ecosystem Values. - Kimberly Rollins. 17. Economic Linkages to Natural Resources - Daniel E. Chappelle.
E. ANALYTICAL METHODS -- APPLICATIONS.
18. Ecosystem Structure and Function Modeling - Hope C. Humphries and Jill Baron. 19. Methods for Determining Historical Range of Variability - Hope C. Humphries and Patrick S. Bourgeron. 20. Representativeness Assessment - Patrick S. Bourgeron, Hope C. Humphries, and Mark E. Jensen. 21. Methods of Economic Impact Analysis - Daniel E. Chappelle.
F. ECOSYSTEM CHARACTERIZATION.
22. Elements of Ecological Land Classifications for Ecological Assessments - Patrick S. Bourgeron, Hope C. Humphries, and Mark E. Jensen. 23. Dynamic Terrestrial Ecosystem Patterns and Processes - Stephanie P. Wilds and Peter S. White. 24. Ecological Classification and Mapping of Aquatic Systems - Mark E. Jensen, Iris A. Goodman, Christopher A. Frissell, C. Kenneth Brewer and Patrick S. Bourgeron. 25. Geomorphic Patterns, Processes, and Perspectives in Aquatic Assessment - Michael Hurley and Mark E. Jensen. 26. Assessment of Biotic Patterns in Freshwater Ecosystems - Christopher A. Frissell, N. LeRoy Poff, and Mark E. Jensen. 27. Characterizing the Human Imprint on Landscapes for Ecological Assessment - Daniel G. Brown. 28. Assessing Human Processes in Society- Environment Interactions - David J. Campbell. 29. Mapping Patterns of Human Use and Potential Resource Conflicts on Public Lands - James V. Schumacher, Roland L. Redmond, Melissa M. Hart, and Mark E. Jensen.
G. CASE STUDIES.
30. The Great Lakes Ecological Assessment - David T. Cleland, Larry A. Leefers, J. Michael Vasievich, Thomas R. Crow, and Eunice A. Padley. 31. Upper Mississippi River Adaptive Environmental Assessment - S.S. Light. 32. Southern Appalachian Case Study - Charles Van Sickle. 33. Northern Forest Lands Case Study - Charles A. Levesque. 34. Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project - Russell T. Graham.
H. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES.
35. Ecological Assessments and Implementing Ecosystem Management: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Road Ahead - Rick Haeuber.
Appendix -- LIST OF REVIEWERS.
Index.