A Century of Ecosystem Science Planning Long-Term Research in the Gulf of Alaska (2002) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
1. Planning Long-Term Ecosystem Science
1. Planning Long-Term Ecosystem Science
Pages 17-30
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From page 17... ...
Under the court-approved terms of the settlement the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council made up of three federal and three state members was formed to administer these funds. The mission of the Trustee Council has been to return the environment to a "healthy, productive, world-renowned ecosystem" by restoring, replacing, enhancing, or acquiring the equivalent of natural resources injured by the spill and the services provided by those resources.
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From page 18... ...
The Trustee Council showed great foresight in setting aside funds over the years to create the trust fund that will now provide long-term funding to the GEM program. As envisioned, the program will offer an unparalleled opportunity to increase understanding of how large marine ecosystems in general, and Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska in particular, function and change over time.
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From page 19... ...
· review the draft research and monitoring plan, including the scope, structure, and quality of the approach proposed for a long-term research and monitoring program in the northern Gulf of Alaska. This includes whether the conceptual foundation provides an adequate basis for longterm research and monitoring, and whether the research and monitoring plan adequately addresses gaps in the knowledge base and existing uncertainties.
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From page 20... ...
Finally, perturbations to marine ecosystems often appear to act in subtle, nonlinear ways making it difficult to understand the consequences on ecosystem components that may be of particular interest to society, such as birds, mammals, and fishes. Given these challenges, we commend the Trustee Council for having the vision to develop a long-term ecological monitoring program that stands to have great enduring value to the stakeholders of this vast and diverse marine ecosystem.
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From page 21... ...
Another benefit is that there is an explicit recognition that segments of society may have different goals and values with respect to marine ecosystems and that those goals and values may conflict. The committee believes that the promise of an ecosystem-based approach to resource management, which recognizes the changing nature of both the physical environment and species interactions and the fact that many of these changes occur at time scales greater than several years, provides a forceful scientific rationale or conceptual foundation for the GEM program.
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From page 22... ...
The value and utility of monitoring critically depends on the variables measured, the spatial and temporal extent, and intensity of sampling. Without clear vision at the outset it is difficult to establish monitoring programs that will provide useful data for sound resource management.
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From page 23... ...
After all, the management issues facing users of Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska are much the same as those found elsewhere in Alaska's marine waters and around the globe. Making long-term research the focus of GEM will create greater benefits to both basic understanding of the gulf ecosystem and its longterm management than would an abundance of short-term projects, many of which could be funded in other ways.
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From page 24... ...
Long-term programs should be modified only when a compelling case is made that change will improve the program (Weisberg et al., 2000~. The committee identified a number of elements deemed essential for a successful long-term science program of the magnitude necessary to fulfill the mission statement and goals articulated for the GEM program by the Trustee Council (EVOSTC, 2000a)
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From page 25... ...
The Exxon Valdez oil spill affected Prince William Sound, the northern and western Gulf of Alaska, and lower Cook Inlet. Selecting an appropriate subset of the northern Gulf and its adjacent waters that can be studied over the long term as a connected whole will challenge the GEM program.
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From page 29... ...
The selection of particular projects and observations is achieved through a program's organizational structure, influences who is involved in honing the conceptual foundation into testable hypotheses and research questions, and demonstrates how open the program is to new personnel and ideas. A vibrant and innovative program must encourage new people to become involved over time, yet long-term plans inevitably reward people with previous experience.
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From page 30... ...
Although generating syntheses of long-term data from these different disciplines is likely to be a challenge, doing so will be important to the long-term success of the GEM program. This report is divided into sections that address the above elements and includes insights drawn from other long-term science plans regarding issues such as governance structures and data management.
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