Coupled Biophysical-Human Systems: Identifying Key Processes, and Relevant Temporal and Spatial Scales

Steve Garman, F. S. Chapin

Primary Participants: Amy Lovecraft, Denise Lach, Charles Redman, Steve Carpenter

The principal goals of this workshop were to stimulate discussion on the concepts and key questions of coupled biophysical-human systems research, and on the current and future role of LTER science in this area of research. Presentations by the organizers and participants provided an overview of coupled-systems research at various LTER sites, and motivated considerable discussion on issues central to performing this type of research. Eight key issues surfaced during these discussions:

1) Learn about each other. A critical initial step in working across disciplines is to develop an understanding of the language, views, and mind-set of others. Discipline-specific language (i.e., jargon) too often precludes effective communication and understanding among disciplines. Avoiding the use of jargon and clearly explaining ideas in common language is essential to facilitate cross-discipline interactions, and ultimately, to ensure successful joint-venture progress. Inherent in this is the development of a common language that spans disciplines Additionally, being receptive to other’s ideas without judgment is a critical fist-step in developing working relationships among disciplines.

2) Using the past to understand or predict the future has limitations. Descriptive, retrospective studies of historical trends in biophysical and human-systems and their interactions are important. But, it is also important to recognize that future trends will not necessarily replicate past trends. For instance, there is the potential for novel, future conditions to promote responses and interactions not previously observed. Concentrating efforts to understand the underlying processes of coupled biophysical-human systems, and using this understanding to forecast or explore plausible future trends avoids the limitations of a retrospective, ‘pattern-based’ approach.

3) Key processes of interest can be categorized into two groups – fast and slow. Quickly changing processes can motivate change in slower, larger (in terms of scale) processes. Slow-changing processes, however, can constrain the degree to which systems change. Accounting for both type of processes, and their interactions, is central to understanding coupled systems.

4) Identifying key temporal and spatial scale of variables and interactions are essential. Procedures for elucidating explicit variables and scales were not pursued in detail. However, it is clear that everyone recognizes this step as being critical.

5) Related to #4; social scientists stressed the need to understand the drivers of governance – at the municipal, county, and state level. Specifically, understanding what motivates social and policy change, and the implications on land-use change is central to coupled biophysical-human research among all LTER sites.

6) Understanding system-level properties that influence change need to be clearly identified, and described in terms that make sense to both biophysical and human-system scientists. For example, the concept of resilience is often used, but what does this mean in terms of biophysical systems, of human systems, and of coupled biophysical-human systems? Vulnerability is another term that is too often used without a clear definition. Additional system-level concepts requiring discussion and clarification in the design of coupled-systems research include: What makes a system vulnerable? What properties constrain resilience? How do these properties change over time and how do these changes precipitate changes in resilience (s.l. stability)?

7) Use of multiple approaches to evaluate social-ecological systems is important, and should be encouraged (e.g., descriptive, quantitative; retrospective, forecast modeling; combinations of sets or all these fundamental approaches). Specific concepts of coupled-systems research, such as those outlined above (#6), are applicable to all sites and should serve to focus specific research efforts. But, the mechanics of the how these concepts are researched will (or should) differ among sites. This is because of underlying differences in the biological and human-systems, and in personnel interests, talents, infrastructure, etc. among sites. Moreover, using different approaches provide an interesting assessment of a diversity of methods that can achieve similar goals and objectives related to understanding coupled systems.

8) Funding! Funding opportunities are key to tackling coupled-systems research. Truly integrative, coupled-systems research is expensive. Funding of individual biophysical and human-system research is typical, but this does not necessarily lead to a truly integrative understanding. Funding from LTER that is ear-marked for coupled-systems research is key for fully integrative, social-ecological research across the LTER network.