Developing a conceptual system model for ecological integrity planning in the Greater Kluane Region, Yukon
Understanding the complexity and ecological organization of protected area ecosystems, and their bioregional surroundings, is fundamental to maintaining their integrity. This research set out to integrate the bodies of systems and hierarchy theory to establish a framework for developing a conceptual...
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Scholars Commons @ Laurier
2003
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| Online Access: | https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/445 https://scholars.wlu.ca/context/etd/article/1444/viewcontent/MQ80879.PDF |
| Summary: | Understanding the complexity and ecological organization of protected area ecosystems, and their bioregional surroundings, is fundamental to maintaining their integrity. This research set out to integrate the bodies of systems and hierarchy theory to establish a framework for developing a conceptual model that would synthesize knowledge from diverse fields and identify key system processes, thereby providing new insight into ecosystem organization, function, and integrity. This understanding was then applied to planning for ecological integrity in the Canadian National Parks context through a case study of Kluane National Park and Reserve (KNP&R) within the Greater Kluane Region (GKR). The methodology characterized processes, identified those that were key, and then explored their interrelationships and potential pathways to system change. A set of criteria, derived from complex systems and hierarchy theory, were developed to characterize the conceptual type and scale of system processes, evaluate the relatedness of processes, and identify cross-scale linkages and their potential to induce significant system change. These criteria served as the basis for identifying key processes in the GKR. The panarchy model described by Gunderson and Holling (2002) was used as the basis for integrating the key biophysical processes, describing their role in system stability and resilience, and elucidating pathways to change in the GKR. The interaction and influence of regional socioeconomic activities within the model were then elucidated in order to assess the susceptibility of key biophysical processes to human influence. The case of the GKR illustrates the value and potential for wider application of a conceptual modeling approach to investigate and describe ecological organization and integrity. Results indicate that ecological integrity planning would benefit by focusing on the dynamics of processes with cross-scale influence and employing keystones species as the tangible points of articulation between processes, ... |
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