tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44112685654652953832012-02-04T09:20:37.743+11:00Exploring the roles of conflicting social values & scientific uncertainty in environmental decision-makingYoyonoreply@blogger.comBlogger7461100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-79151034336854470362012-02-04T09:20:00.000+11:002012-02-04T09:20:37.860+11:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-AU ZH-CN X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-24871882182181992982012-02-04T09:07:00.000+11:002012-02-04T09:07:11.815+11:00

  A new framework created by USDA scientists to manage invasive plants, the framework includes the following steps:                                                           .

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-41119583470191499632012-02-03T16:08:00.001+11:002012-02-03T16:08:34.669+11:00

A letter in the latest Science by P.E. Hulme argued that "it even more important for governments to design robust policy and regulatory frameworks to combat both the current and potential future threats of biological invasions" under climate change for a couple of reasons:  1. "The spread rates of alien invasive species in terrestrial and marine

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-86379543911466769502012-02-02T18:14:00.000+11:002012-02-02T18:14:15.537+11:00

Talking about big ideas!  Professor Bowman proposed a 'holistic approach' to manage Australia's problem of biological invasions (Nature).

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-68782442291366511852012-01-26T15:56:00.001+11:002012-01-27T16:10:41.118+11:00

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Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-13929915695147723482012-01-25T15:54:00.001+11:002012-01-27T17:15:37.201+11:00

A USGS effort and here are the list of their social values from the journal article describing their approach. HT: K Bagstad via GIEE list

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-31625842568914149522012-01-22T15:56:00.001+11:002012-01-27T15:57:02.685+11:00

A review paper in Ecology Letters and a general conclusion is that "Overall, our review shows that current estimates are very variable, depending on the method, taxonomic group, biodiversity loss metrics, spatial scales and time periods considered. Yet, the majority of models indicate alarming consequences for biodiversity, with the worst-case scenarios leading to extinction rates that would

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-24523776025335707262012-01-20T15:56:00.000+11:002012-01-27T16:05:23.643+11:00

A working paper titled "Cost-Benefit Analysis in a Framework of Stakeholder Involvement and Integrated Coastal Zone Modeling" by Swedish scholars. Figure 1 below shows the 10 steps of CBA, indicating where the application was supported by ecological expertise and stakeholder involvement.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-71693589229040840962012-01-15T15:56:00.001+11:002012-01-18T17:03:06.400+11:00

A very cool website with over 280 figures related to different aspects of sustainability, and this is my favorite: HT: T Hudspeth via GIEE list.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-58806067194614253662012-01-08T15:54:00.001+11:002012-01-12T10:52:36.957+11:00

A new website that calls for the public appetite as well as wisdom to control invasive species (link).  I look forward to trying out their Fajitas Carpitas recipe!  HT: Joe Roman via GIEE list

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-639398139258905842012-01-05T15:54:00.000+11:002012-01-13T16:37:25.834+11:00

In PNAS, 2011, 108 (Supplement 4).

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-79347622830232370282012-01-03T15:54:00.001+11:002012-01-13T16:34:44.557+11:00

In Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences, 2012, 367 (1586).

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-52954791433341365792011-12-31T15:56:00.000+11:002012-01-23T21:31:42.438+11:00

Ecological modelling, Vol 223 (1), 2011.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-9335118591790010602011-12-29T15:54:00.003+11:002012-01-18T16:03:03.355+11:00

A new publication by Forest Trend.  Also the Katoomba group hosts a PES contract toolkit which includes contract clauses.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-39098759728487082262011-12-29T15:54:00.001+11:002012-01-11T18:22:15.370+11:00

An article in American Scientist, talking about the problems and solutions when popularizing science.  "An ideal process for the popularization of statistical analysis includes many steps and is far from linear. One example of what such a process might look like is shown above. The popularizer carefully interviews primary researchers, or writes thoughtfully about his or her own work; seeks

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-26498099424990990732011-12-27T03:54:00.002+11:002012-01-06T10:28:28.373+11:00

High-quality paper, bright colors, and rhyming or simple language will help, according to Daniel Kahneman in his Thinking, fast and slow, it is all about create cognitive ease. Also, due to the mere exposure effect, " a reliable way to make people believe in falsehoods is frequent repetition, because familiarity is not easily distinguished from truth. Authoritarian institutions and marketers

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-70857776700339767842011-12-26T15:54:00.001+11:002011-12-27T13:53:54.433+11:00

This study was used by Kahnemann as the perfect example in his book of Thinking, fast and slow.Priming effect explains why the following statement is true," I made myself smile and I 'm actually feeling better!"

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-3912466746799240632011-12-25T15:53:00.010+11:002011-12-28T21:01:45.728+11:00

Below are the notes I took when reading Part I of Daniel Kahneman's "Thinking, fast and slow.""I describe System 1 as effortlessly originating impressions and feelings that are the main sources of the explicit beliefs and deliberate choices of System 2. the automatic operations of System 1 generate surprisingly complex patterns of ideas, but only the slower System 2 can construct thoughts in an

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Two factors triggered the change from "Bioinvasion & Ecoservices" to "Collective decision-making under uncertainty". First, it is (almost) the time to make new year resolutions and I am in the "What's new" mood. Second, I am in the process of summarizing what I have done in the past four years/post-PhD time and thinking about my future research plan because I was invited to submit an

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-72401681226605737172011-12-23T15:53:00.045+11:002011-12-25T17:23:04.889+11:00

This is what I learned so far from reading from the literature on behavior of social animals.1. Sharing decisions with others can help, because several decision makers can pool their information and also eliminate individual error (Sumpter and Pratt 2009). As a result, the risk of making a bad decision decreases.2. 'Wisdom of the crowd' effect or 'Many eyes' effect: Large groups are more

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-86746116195968479082011-12-20T15:53:00.000+11:002011-12-25T18:25:51.405+11:00

A review in Science talked about the problem of Mayr's model on causation. The distinction between proximate and ultimate causes is not clear for most cases in biology (or fields such as human cooperation and cultural evolution), so we need a paradigm shift because the fact that proximate mechanisms (how, short-term, intra-generation) contribute to the dynamics of selection (why, long-term,

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-68023846196970665222011-12-20T12:23:00.000+11:002011-12-23T14:26:12.394+11:00

Environmental management Vol 48 (6), 2011, including papers about PES or Eco-compensation as they call it in China.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-21344773034439554812011-12-19T15:53:00.001+11:002011-12-23T16:11:37.337+11:00

An interesting paper from the latest Science--in other words, can ignorance promote democracy?!

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-67392853424945105932011-12-19T15:53:00.000+11:002011-12-23T16:01:36.057+11:00

With Maximal information coefficient, when you do not already know what kinds of relationships to search for (Science)

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-30986786005704062932011-12-11T12:23:00.000+11:002011-12-23T15:43:51.915+11:00

An interesting piece in the latest Science asked whether broadcasters are free-riders of ecosystem services (Link).

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-8405839583393812982011-12-10T15:53:00.001+11:002011-12-24T15:44:51.774+11:00

Published by USDA Forest Service, which is the first-ever national-level document. HT: P Zevit and G Man via Aliens list.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-51350415674281660312011-12-06T15:53:00.000+11:002011-12-24T15:32:03.684+11:00

In the Journal of Policy and Society, Vol. 30 (2), 2011. This is not an ISI journal but somehow I got an email about the journal.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-95982491890337042011-12-03T15:54:00.000+11:002011-12-27T12:18:24.701+11:00

A recent paper in Conservation Biology (Hampton and Parker, 2011) found that the number of meetings was the strongest predictor of working group productivity and scientific impact, using data from NCEAS collaboration.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-78507812467707524742011-12-02T15:54:00.000+11:002011-12-27T11:15:11.004+11:00

Figure 1 from Wiedemann et al. 2011. The maps are designed to "depict the reasons that lead experts to their conclusions when evaluating and summarizing the scientific evidence...their specific value lies in the organization and easy-to-grasp graphical representation of the expert reasoning.?

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-88384643920107786672011-12-01T12:23:00.000+11:002011-12-23T10:29:49.472+11:00

Accrording to Peter Sandman, the guy who developed "Risk = Hazard + Public outrage," or "Perceived risk = technical risk + non-technical component.""Number one, express regret for some of the solutions that are going to be unpleasant and costly. Number two, express uncertainty that you’re right, but conviction that the risk is too great to ignore. Number three, give people absolution for

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-76009780471534391302011-11-29T15:53:00.000+11:002011-12-27T10:47:18.775+11:00

From Gibbs, 2011. The missing link is the post hoc assessments about the performance of ecological risk assessments.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-58850838984257949482011-11-29T12:23:00.002+11:002012-01-12T10:50:52.274+11:00

Another CV study that evaluated the invaluable, in this case, polar bears (link).

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-55956511961845839552011-11-28T12:23:00.000+11:002011-12-23T11:38:36.859+11:00

In the case of climate change, according to the findings from the Cultural Cognition Project (details).Explanation: ideology trumps rationalism/our ability to acquire knowledge is linked up with our ability to figure out whom to trust about what.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-72651599587415189822011-11-23T15:53:00.001+11:002011-12-25T22:27:06.987+11:00

is that bright unless new systems are designed explicitly to measure its environmental and social effects, according to P. Ferraro (Conservation Biology). Also, he believes valuation efforts should be linked to real conservation effects from real conservation programs.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-54809754076655867042011-11-23T15:53:00.000+11:002011-12-24T09:59:59.202+11:00

Just released by WRI

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-91576865406354037112011-11-19T15:53:00.001+11:002012-01-06T10:25:51.304+11:00

HT: Nate Hagens via GIEE list.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-87961700845112783502011-11-16T12:24:00.000+11:002011-11-17T23:28:17.445+11:00

It even dug out a term paper I wrote when doing my PhD (Link)!

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-2522660329025755822011-11-15T15:53:00.005+11:002012-01-12T10:41:36.590+11:00

Figure 2 from Tyszka and Sawicki, 2011. In risky situations people underweight moderate and large probabilities but overweight rare events. Affect-rich outcomes (those evoking strong emotional reactions), as opposed to affect-poor ones, result in lower sensitivity to intermediate probability variations. In other words, the S-shaped weighting function becomes flatter for affect -rich outcomes.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-30568568103826048462011-11-14T12:24:00.000+11:002011-11-15T16:30:03.589+11:00

Even better, it works with an iPod Touch or Android-based tablet (Details).

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-16136097138328611382011-11-07T12:24:00.003+11:002012-01-06T10:30:34.171+11:00

By Kinzig et al. in the recent Science.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-16922093330209752692011-11-07T12:24:00.002+11:002012-01-06T10:30:00.953+11:00

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-31211080612378233782011-11-05T12:24:00.000+11:002011-11-14T16:50:39.181+11:00

Key results: 1) 72 percent 3105 individuals in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom support it but only 8 percent of us can define it, 2) “The strongest opposition comes from people who self-identify as politically conservative, who are distrustful of government and other elite institutions, and who doubt the very idea that there is a climate problem.”“The results suggest that

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-20608276854878972742011-10-29T15:53:00.000+11:002011-12-26T10:57:05.719+11:00

for conceptual learning and technical learning in linking scientific knowledge to actions (Lauber et al. 2011). Technical learning involves efforts to develop new policies to accomplish existing objectives, but does not include changing the objective. Conceptual learning leads to the development of new objectives and new ways to define a problem. Social learning focuses on relationships and the

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-34060338767649179852011-10-27T12:24:00.001+11:002012-01-06T10:24:15.035+11:00

A paper from Physics today (HT: Freakonomics)

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-13524737911843769102011-10-20T12:24:00.000+11:002011-10-21T15:41:41.362+11:00

A review in the latest Science by A.M. Kilpatrick

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-28222766230431923272011-10-18T12:24:00.002+11:002011-10-21T16:10:10.001+11:00

When it comes to maintaining tropical biodiversity, there is no substitute for primary forests (a meta-analysis in the latest Nature).

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-74937162005341261692011-10-18T12:24:00.001+11:002011-10-21T16:06:18.293+11:00

A Nature article claimed four combined strategies can double food supply: halting agricultural expansion, closing ‘yield gaps’ on under-performing lands, increasing cropping efficiency, shifting diets and reducing waste (link).

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-55345505822200946172011-10-17T12:25:00.000+11:002011-10-18T14:53:44.089+11:00

A new database for identifying plant pest insects, diseases, and weeds (Link).HT: S. Pagad via Aliens' list

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-36545914441041254862011-10-16T12:25:00.000+11:002011-10-18T15:15:25.770+11:00

A CABI paper by Arne Witt (Link)HT: S. Pagad via Aliens' list.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-56221256563912172112011-10-15T12:25:00.000+11:002011-10-17T15:15:20.397+11:00

"Less stuff = more happiness"Edit your life ruthlessly (TED video by Graham Hill)!

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-61623843655274979272011-10-13T12:24:00.000+11:002011-11-14T17:38:19.081+11:00

In the Oct issue of Climate Change.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-18715246874509917442011-10-11T12:25:00.000+11:002011-10-18T15:29:50.215+11:00

A PNAS paper: kill the edge if you want to eliminate a species, and protect the source if you want to conserve another.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-67575360947666122562011-10-07T12:24:00.000+11:002011-10-23T18:05:23.411+11:00

Daniel Sarewitz argued that we need a transparent model "Agree to disagree" to replace the conventional decision-making support model of consensus report (Nature). "The very idea that science best expresses its authority through consensus statements is at odds with a vibrant scientific enterprise. Consensus is for textbooks; real science depends for its progress on continual challenges to the

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-38106789535621963082011-10-03T15:54:00.002+11:002011-12-28T13:36:24.197+11:00

A paper by T. Aven in the latest Risk analysis, proposing a new classification system of uncertainties (Z is the output and X are the underlying factors influencing Z). The paper is followed by three commentaries.In the paper the author argued that only a surprising outcome necessitates the application of precautionary principle, and the potential for surprises means we have trouble in

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-91756837618796664072011-09-27T12:24:00.000+10:002011-11-13T13:41:26.740+11:00

The classical hump-shaped or modal curve turns out quite rare (Science).

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-88877793941395267322011-09-11T12:24:00.001+10:002012-01-16T11:26:05.753+11:00

A review in the recent Science and and here are some of the key points: 1. "The most suitable choice of visualization to illustrate uncertainty depends closely on the objectives of the presenter, the context of the communication, and the audience." 2. "When designing a communication, the desired outcome must be considered from the start."  The graphical designs will be

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-90361641802572388142011-09-01T12:24:00.001+10:002011-11-14T17:32:08.739+11:00

" Using data from 1950 to 2004, we show that the probability of new civil conflicts arising throughout the tropics doubles during El Niño years relative to La Niña years. This result, which indicates that ENSO may have had a role in 21% of all civil conflicts since 1950, is the first demonstration that the stability of modern societies relates strongly to the global climate (Nature)."Update:

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-74894632716987447832011-08-27T12:24:00.000+10:002011-11-10T18:17:03.657+11:00

"The goal is to make scientific research more efficient by making it easy for researchers to access experimental expertise from core facilities with underutilized capacity (Nature)." So far it seems to have a focus on medical sciences.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-40056203527068490672011-08-14T12:24:00.001+10:002011-11-10T11:32:50.636+11:00

The next stage of ecosystem services valuation (NYT)?

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-37194390488987779022011-08-08T12:26:00.001+10:002011-08-16T12:47:04.366+10:00

A report to the President by Executive Office of the President and President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, with a chapter on ecosystem services valuation.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-19259328741490024992011-08-02T12:26:00.000+10:002011-08-05T14:50:18.468+10:00

Vol. 31 (6), 2011. Risk analysis, including three papers on equality

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-27695918130125675092011-07-31T12:25:00.000+10:002011-08-16T19:36:37.707+10:00

“But when we researched the data the whole idea of dissonance came into focus. People were doing something very different from the things they said they wanted on their profile." “We are so focused on behaviour rather than stated preferences because we find people break from their stated preferences so often (lessons revealed from March.com story).”

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-90487712516641118892011-07-25T12:27:00.000+10:002011-08-04T14:47:23.051+10:00

An opinion piece from Ecosystem Marketplace, including the link to a survey.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-27902428632284355322011-07-20T12:27:00.000+10:002011-08-04T14:03:01.876+10:00

A paper in Science reviewed cascading effects of the loss of large apex animals on ecosystems.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-83309537118902583582011-07-17T12:27:00.000+10:002011-08-04T14:54:20.707+10:00

Estimated and mapped at a city scale, and the result is an order of magnitude greater than current national estimates for Leicester.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-21921452557871185152011-07-12T12:27:00.000+10:002011-08-04T14:17:39.103+10:00

A bottom-up estimates published in Science. The assessment for the tropical has the largest uncertainty.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-57272482762351892822011-06-20T12:27:00.002+10:002011-11-13T10:07:19.692+11:00

A paper in Nature argued that "the practical value of the native-versus-alien species dichotomy in conservation is declining, and even becoming counterproductive."The July 7 issue of Nature published four commentary articles, including this one by Simberloff on behalf of 141 scientists. Also the response of the Nature paper authors.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-64057219694535269522011-06-17T12:23:00.000+10:002011-06-27T15:08:14.406+10:00

Made in the Netherlands.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-59424787302256935522011-06-15T12:23:00.001+10:002011-06-20T18:12:03.233+10:00

Ecological Application, Vol 21, 2o11, Supplement.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-48824048249173418052011-06-10T12:23:00.001+10:002011-11-13T11:19:48.900+11:00

A war between two invasives. Of course, no one is entirely sure that the wasp soldiers employed from China aren't creating a whole new invasive species dilemma.Update: A purple trap for the borer.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-72064523687118750512011-06-01T12:23:00.003+10:002011-06-27T14:25:18.736+10:00

The econ professor offered several advices in this video, including1) don't give editors/reviewers excuses to reject your paper,2) make sure to write a good "letter to the editor" when submitting your revision, and3) if you don't know which journal to send your paper to, then your stuff is perhaps not that good.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-67912977399766633902011-04-30T12:22:00.001+10:002011-05-06T16:04:05.298+10:00

Just published in Science

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-16199607435156060232011-04-25T12:22:00.000+10:002011-05-08T12:41:57.074+10:00

By Tim Harford. "Being open about uncertainty is not just a case of reporting some kind of statistically-derived “margin of error”. There are many ways for a conclusion to look statistically robust but be wrong. What is needed is to be clear about the underpinning assumptions and open-minded about what would happen if the assumptions were mistaken....Politicians are creatures of certitude: they

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-67294605178765599702011-04-22T12:22:00.000+10:002011-04-24T11:47:38.305+10:00

I have to admit my mixed feeling for killing bunnies on Easter, or any other days; even though they are invasive species in this part of the world (details).

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-11996588217188086752011-04-21T12:22:00.003+10:002011-05-08T15:25:33.455+10:00

Andrew Gelman showed a great example:Before:After:

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-68848148692930625622011-04-15T12:22:00.029+10:002011-04-15T13:54:28.788+10:00

HT: Bob Costanza via GIEE list.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-67132394527183382262011-04-13T12:22:00.000+10:002011-04-25T14:57:15.561+10:00

According to a recent meta-analysis published in American Journal of Botany. "While invasive plant species at small spatial scales (plots < 100 m2) severely decreased native species richness, the impact of the invasive species decreased as the size of the study plot increased (details)"

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-46074134237306812532011-04-10T12:22:00.004+10:002011-11-12T10:57:26.810+11:00

Hydropower Development in the upper Mekong is controversial. It hits both Science and Nature lately. Update: More about potential Water Wars for China.Update: Laos' plan of constructing a dam seems to be delayed as well.Update: latest progress in stalling dam constructions.Update: Mayhem on the Mekong

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-80607367967666809992011-04-09T12:22:00.001+10:002011-04-25T15:24:47.432+10:00

Published in BioScience recently.Fig. 3. The distribution of the predominant threats to biodiversity across Australia. The “predominant threat” is the threat affecting the greatest number of species in each sub catchment. Where two or more threats affect an equivalent number of species, we consider there to be no predominant threat occurring in these subcatchments, displayed here in shades of

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-64232369477187508172011-04-09T12:22:00.000+10:002011-04-15T13:37:33.322+10:00

By the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (link).

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-74726073433835718612011-04-08T15:09:00.000+10:002011-04-15T12:16:12.565+10:00

Another call for embracing invasive species (NYT); this time drawing the analogy between invasive species and immigrants.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-40701341949091997182011-04-03T15:09:00.001+10:002011-04-15T12:01:57.666+10:00

Old model: heavily relied on prediction models, which has high level of uncertainty anywayNew model: integrated assessment (Science).

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-87566317083492473392011-04-03T15:09:00.000+10:002011-04-15T11:39:38.496+10:00

Ecosystem service: pest controlValuation method: benefit transfer + avoided cost"...estimating the economic importance of bats in agricultural systems is challenging, but published estimates of the value of pest suppression services provided by bats ranges from about $12 to $173/acre (with a most likely scenario of $74/acre) in a cotton-dominated agricultural landscape in south-central Texas (12)

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-40408546496478571112011-03-28T15:09:00.000+11:002011-04-15T11:35:34.959+10:00

"...the academic literature about ecosystem services relies on a conceptual basis thatdiffers dramatically from the kinds of information that stakeholders depend on when evaluating ecosystem services. Ecologists and other scientists seek knowledge that is centralised, collaborative, replicable, and based on consensus. In contrast, the information used by stakeholders to set values tends to be

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-20542524434842263522011-03-26T15:09:00.000+11:002011-04-07T15:07:17.823+10:00

"...a global information clearinghouse for a segment of biodiversity markets focusing on biodiversity offsetting, compensation and banking (link)"

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-47054874740938629952011-03-25T12:22:00.000+11:002011-04-25T15:54:12.464+10:00

A recent BioScience paper. I think the authors' answer is: yes, and too bad we haven't managed invasions as natural disasters.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-24964954351117147702011-03-23T15:09:00.000+11:002011-03-25T11:16:40.474+11:00

By David Simpson.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-7792525579865131142011-03-19T15:09:00.000+11:002011-03-25T15:15:37.448+11:00

to create novel ecosystems in the Galápagos (Science).

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-10287767416020656852011-03-18T12:22:00.000+11:002011-04-25T16:24:41.462+10:00

In the journal of Environmental Management, Volume 92, Issue 5, May 2011.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-70776147703881515232011-03-17T12:22:00.001+11:002011-04-25T16:10:30.387+10:00

In the journal of Biological Conservation Volume 144, Issue 4, April 2011

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-89182862086866683682011-03-13T12:22:00.000+11:002011-04-25T15:57:20.934+10:00

A recent paper in JEEM."There is an increasing tendency to use markets to induce the provision of environmental services. As such markets increase in scope, potential market participants might sell multiple environmental services. The question we consider here is whether participants in such markets should be allowed to sell credits in more than one market simultaneously. Some have argued in

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-73979523724366579222011-03-04T15:10:00.000+11:002011-03-04T15:10:00.619+11:00

C.Perrings asked what the policy-oriented charges in the Busan outcome imply for the science of the assessment process (Science). "For IPBES to provide the policy support envisaged in the Busan outcome, it needs to answer questions that are meaningful to the nations that have brought it into being. This requires an approach that differs from those adopted in previous

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-14713766564055332692011-03-03T15:10:00.000+11:002011-03-04T12:47:09.895+11:00

A recent report by Forest Trend, Ecosystem MarketPlace, and Forest Service.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-16977539069732137382011-02-28T15:09:00.000+11:002011-03-11T14:40:09.126+11:00

Here is the equation.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-81361267372763312842011-02-25T15:09:00.000+11:002011-03-04T14:31:45.055+11:00

"Our study indicates that fire ants have been introduced on no fewer than nine separate occasions to California, Asia, and Australia from the southern United States, where S. invicta populations previously were confined for decades. We consider this a minimum estimate, because our NIA sample collections were not geographically exhaustive, and analyses

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-33795683916915796702011-02-24T15:09:00.000+11:002011-03-07T20:45:37.705+11:00

Suggested by Marginal Revolution, including a link for a free video course.

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-72591667391164774702011-02-21T15:09:00.000+11:002011-03-07T21:19:54.529+11:00

"Once fundamental measurement problems were solved -- involving time, distance, weights, and power, among others -- it became possible to cheaply measure worker performance, input and output quality, and the role of nature, in areas of life that were unheard of before. This ability to cheaply measure ushered in the world of modern institutions (Marginal revolution)."Reminds me of the point

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-26466032014199679372011-02-14T15:09:00.000+11:002011-03-07T21:57:24.360+11:00

It is a long list and I've only read 1.5 :(

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-67221157583033182532011-02-11T15:10:00.000+11:002011-02-17T13:13:42.402+11:00

A young pries asked his bishop, "May I smoke while praying?"The answer was an emphatic "No!"Later, encountering an older priest puffing on a cigarette while praying, the younger priest scolded, "You shouldn't be smoking while praying! I asked the bishop, and he said I couldn't.""That's strange," the older priest replied. " I asked the bishop if I could pray while I'm smoking, and he told me

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411268565465295383.post-45372970687879722682011-02-05T15:09:00.001+11:002011-03-04T15:40:31.531+11:00

Top ten social-science questions (Nature): 1. How can we induce people to look after their health? 2. How do societies create effective and resilient institutions, such as governments? 3. How can humanity increase its collective wisdom? 4. How do we reduce the ‘skill gap’

Shuang Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674348057572989951noreply@blogger.com1