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Two tables....any more info needed here?? to explain them?
Definition
A definition of the indicators...some are simple others are hard to find a suitably consistent definition.
what does it indicate?
Individual indicators
Indicators can be used to present the data in a way that represents the broader significance or implications of the data compared to the raw data on its own (Vandermeulen 1998).
Can be a useful tool within management frameworks for purposes of communication and decision making (Vandermeulen 1998).
Can provide information on trends in the conditions of a phenomenon and has significance extending beyond that associated with the properties of the statistics itself (Vandermeulen 1998).
Simple indicators have been found out perform more complex (model based) ones, which are sensitive to data quality (Fulton et al 2005, Link 2005).
There is consensus on the need for multiple rather than a single indicator and on the types of indicators that perform well regardless of system type (Medley et al 2009).
"Ecosystem indicators are generally accepted as tools for evaluating ecosystem status and trends (e.g. Shin & Shannon 2010, Shin et al. 2010a,b), identifying key ecosystem processes (e.g. Ojaveer & Eero 2011), serving as signals that something is happening beyond what is actually measured (NRC 2000), and assessing the impacts of human activities and climate forcing (e.g. Coll et al. 2010, Link et al. 2010b, Ojaveer & Eero 2011)." (Fu et al 2012).
Indicator performance can be quantified by the ability to detect and/or predict trends in key variables of interest (attributes) (Fulton et al 2005).
Community indicators in fisheries - the criteria used for the evaluation of these indicators are (Rochet and Trenkel 2003):
- meanings - "Does the indicator have an understandable relationship with the state and dynamics of animals in the community?". Assigning meaning is subjective and subject to criticism.
- expected effect of fisheries - "How does the indicator change under the effect of fishing pressure?". There are three categories (1) unpredictable indicators, (2) sensitive indicators with a reference direction and (3) sensitive indicators with reference points.
- exclusiveness to fishing effects - "Is the indicator exclusive to fishing, ie is it not expected to vary under the influence of other factors than fishing?".
- measurability - "Is the indicator easily measurable?". These were split into 'usually available' data and those that needed additional data/information.
(Fulton et al., 2005; Link, 2005) has shown that it is critical that:
- a suite of indicators, which are not all highly correlated, is used;
- multiple time and space scales are spanned by the data sets
It is also critical that data include species that (Medley et al 2009):
- are directly impacted;
- have high turnover rates, which may provide a noisy but early warning;
- define the habitat, as these often have a disproportionate or keystone role in the system; and
- are from the upper trophic level, which are typically both vulnerable in their own right due to their life history characteristics, but also integrative of pressures and patterns at large scales.
Attribute
what is the Possible examples of ecological attribute(s) that is are related to this indicator?Possible examples include each indicator includes (Fulton et al 2004):
- ecosystem structure -
- ecosystem function
- community structure
- community function
- Eutrophication
- trophic shifts
- trophic structure
- habitat quality
- discard availability
- population structure
- predator-prey balance
- community heterogeneity
- habitat condition
- efficiency of by-catch reduction measures
Add a definition for each of the above
Purpose
Pick one or more of the following:
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what data is required to calculate this indicator?
Ecosystem applicability
where can this indicator be used? all over or just locally ie:
- applicable to all ecosystems
- only for specific systems (eg temperate, inshore, etc)
- currently only for specific systems but may be used for wider ecosystem with more information??
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The indicators listed in this wiki are classified into hierarchical levels of organisation (based on those described by Fulton et al (2004)) and then subdivided into drivers, ??themes?? and finally into individual indicators. The top five level of classification are species, population, assemblage, community, and ecosystem. Fulton et al (2004) do not include a species level but does include an individual level which they describe as being highly restricted and of uncertain benefit.
Hierarchical level
The species level focuses on behavioural and metabolic responses (Fulton et al 2004).
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- looks at local and basin scale climate factors.
- Temperature one of the strongest environmental drivers. (Fu et al 2012).
- represent thermal or broad-scale oceanographic features that are influential in an ecosystem. (Fu et al 2012).
- examples include: SST, various ocean oscillation and indexes, stratification, freshwater discharge, sea ice cover.
Robustness
what error level or variability is there? low, medium, high ?
what factors contribute to variability
is
The robustness level of each indicator is based on the definition outlined in Fulton et al (2004) Final Report -
Many of the descriptions of the different types of indicators given below refer to a robustness rating. This is a subjective rating (low, medium, high), given to each indicator reviewed by Fulton et al. (2004a), that was based on a literature review (and where necessary an expert judgement) on the conceptual foundation, feasibility of implementation, ease of accurate collection, sensitivity, exclusiveness, comprehensiveness and clarity of potential indicators (Jackson et al. 2000, ICES 2001, Rochet and Trenkel 2003, Fulton et al. 2004a, Niemi et al. 2004, Rice and Rochet 2004, Rochet and Rice 2004). While some preliminary indicator assessment frameworks were trialed during the early stages of this project, in collaboration with members of the SCOR working group 9 (WG9) on the quantitative indicators of the ecological effects of fishing, the ratings ultimately subjective, as no tested quantitative selection criteria existed when the review took place. The final form of the SCOR WG9 indicator evaluation framework does appear to show substantial promise, but they have come too late for inclusion in this study.
In general, a poor rating based on this subjective system did mean an indicator was dropped from further consideration by simulation testing. However, if an indicator has been strongly advocated in the past, is already widely used, or if field work had indicated that it may actually have potential, then it was included (if possible given the form of the model) regardless of rating.
is there were could include discussion about type I and II errors...or are we talking statistical errors in calculating the indicator? or both?
certainty based on Observations, speculation, or association - see penguin risk assessment spread sheet...ask how they defined these....
Current status and trends
what was it like in an undisturbed/unexploited system?
how would it be expected to change?
which way is the indicator showing a population is going in? decreasing or increasing ??
The trend associated with meeting an operational objective can be a limited or target reference point, trajectory or direction.
Target stock use in management plans has a tradition of setting reference points (Jennings 2005). In other fields a reference point can not be made therefore a trajectory or reference direction is used instead. See figure below from Jennings 2005 for an example of points, trajectories and directions. The unexploited, target, precautionary and limit are reference points where as the green arrows are the trajectories or reference directions. These are all measurement of progress of the management performance.
"Reference points that might support management decision making are: 1, reference points for no impaxct, 2. limit reference points fr the values of indicators associated with serious or irreversible harm, and 3, target reference points for preferred values of the indicators. As indicator values include error, precautionary reference points may be used to guarantee a high (preferably specified) probability of avoiding a limit" (Jennings 2005).
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- by all stakeholder
- by the public
- understandable to the stakeholders
Associated links
Hyperlinks to organisations, databases, webportals, and ID books, that are associated with this indicator, if appropriate.
References
website set up to provide a map interface for describing indicators, provide background and overview of the status of their ecosystems - http://www.indiseas.org/
Journal dedicated to ecological indicators - http://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecological-indicators/
Special edition of ICES Journal of Marine Science (2005) - http://icesjms.oxfordjournals.org/content/62/3.toc
Fish and Fisheries special edition (2011) - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/faf.2011.12.issue-2/issuetoc
Marine Ecology Progress Series (2012) Theme Section of this volume - http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v459/
References
Fu, C., Gaichas, S., Link, J.S., Bundy, A., Boldt, J.L., Cook, A.M., Gamble, R., Utne, K.R., Liu, H., and Friedland, K.D. (2012) Relative importance of fisheries, trophodynamic and environmental drivers in a series of marine ecosystems. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 459, 169-184.
Fulton, E.A., Fuller,M., Smith, A.D.M., and Punt, A. (2004) Ecological indicators of the ecosystem effects of fishing: Final report. AFMA Final Research Report, report Number R99/1546.
Fulton, E.A., Smith, A.D.M., Webb, H., and Slater, J. (2004a) Ecological indicators for the impacts of fishing on non-target species, communities and ecosystems: Review of potential indicators. AFMA Final Research Report, report Number R99/1546.
Fulton, E.A., Smith, A.D.M. and Punt, A.E (2005) Which ecological indicators can robustly detect effects of fishing? ICES Journal of Marine Science. 62, 540-551.
Jennings, S. (2005) Indicators to support an ecosystem approach to fisheries. Fish and Fisheries, 6, 212-232.
Link, J.S.,Megrey, B.A., Miller, T.J., Essington, T., Boldt, J., Bundy, A., Moksness, E., Drinkwater, K.F. and Perry, R.I. (2010) Comparative analyssi of marine ecosystems: international production modelling workshop. Biology Letters 6, 723-726.
Medley, P.; Cheung, W.; Fulton, B.; Minte-Vera, C. (2009) Multispecies and ecosystem indicators, and biomass-fleet dynamics stock assessment: an initial evaluation. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular. No. 1045. Rome, FAO. 28p
Pranovi, F., Link, J., Fu, C., Cook, A.M., Lui, H., Gaichas, S., Freidland, K.D., Utne, K.R., and Benoît, H.P. (2012) Trophic-level determinants of biomass accumulation in marine ecosystems. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 459, 185-201.
Rochet, M-J. and Rice, J.C. (2005) Do explicit criteria help in selecting indicators for ecosystem-based fisheries management? ICES Journal of Marine Science. 62, 528-539.
Rochet, M-J. and Trenkel, V.M. (2003) Which community indicators can measure the impact of fishing? A review and proposals. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 60 (1) 86-99.
Background reading
Other references that would be useful to read in regard to the indicator referred to on this page.
Citation
Please cite this page as:
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