REVIEW: Predictive ecology in a changing world

Mouquet, Nicolas; Lagadeuc, Yvan; Devictor, Vincent; Doyen, Luc; Duputié, Anne; Eveillard, Damien; Faure, Denis; Garnier, Eric; Gimenez, Olivier; Huneman, Philippe; Jabot, Franck; Jarne, Philippe; Joly, Dominique; Julliard, Romain; Kéfi, Sonia; Kergoat, Gael J.; Lavorel, Sandra; Le Gall, Line; Meslin, Laurence; Morand, Serge; Morin, Xavier; Morlon, Hélène; Pinay, Gilles; Pradel, Roger; Schurr, Frank M.; Thuiller, Wilfried; Loreau, Michel

doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12482

Cited by 335

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REVIEW: Predictive ecology in a changing world

Mouquet, Nicolas, Lagadeuc, Yvan, Devictor, Vincent, Doyen, Luc, Duputié, Anne, Eveillard, Damien, Faure, Denis, Garnier, Eric, Gimenez, Olivier, Huneman, Philippe, Jabot, Franck, Jarne, Philippe, Joly, Dominique, Julliard, Romain, Kéfi, Sonia, Kergoat, Gael J., Lavorel, Sandra, Le Gall, Line, Meslin, Laurence, Morand, Serge, Morin, Xavier, Morlon, Hélène, Pinay, Gilles, Pradel, Roger, Schurr, Frank M., Thuiller, Wilfried, Loreau, Michel·2015·Journal of Applied Ecology

DOI 10.1111/1365-2664.12482

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Abstract

Summary: In a rapidly changing world, ecology has the potential to move from empirical and conceptual stages to application and management issues. It is now possible to make large‐scale predictions up to continental or global scales, ranging from the future distribution of biological diversity to changes in ecosystem functioning and services. With these recent developments, ecology has a historical opportunity to become a major actor in the development of a sustainable human society. With this opportunity, however, also comes an important responsibility in developing appropriate predictive models, correctly interpreting their outcomes and communicating their limitations. There is also a danger that predictions grow faster than our understanding of ecological systems, resulting in a gap between the scientists generating the predictions and stakeholders using them (conservation biologists, environmental managers, journalists, policymakers). Here, we use the context provided by the current surge of ecological predictions on the future of biodiversity to clarify what prediction means, and to pinpoint the challenges that should be addressed in order to improve predictive ecological models and the way they are understood and used. Synthesis and applications. Ecologists face several challenges to ensure the healthy development of an operational predictive ecological science: (i) clarity on the distinction between explanatory and anticipatory predictions; (ii) developing new theories at the interface between explanatory and anticipatory predictions; (iii) open data to test and validate predictions; (iv) making predictions operational; and (v) developing a genuine ethics of prediction.

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Authors: Mouquet, N., Lagadeuc, Y., Devictor, V., Doyen, L., Duputié, A., Eveillard, D., Faure, D., Garnier, E., Gimenez, O., Huneman, P., Jabot, F., Jarne, P., Joly, D., Julliard, R., Kéfi, S., Kergoat, G. J., Lavorel, S., Le Gall, L., Meslin, L., Morand, S., Morin, X., Morlon, H., Pinay, G., Pradel, R., Schurr, F. M., Thuiller, W., & Loreau, M.
Venue: Journal of Applied Ecology
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2015-07-15
Volume: 52
Issue: 5
Pages: 1293-1310
ISSN: 0021-8901 (ISSN-L)
1365-2664
DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12482
OpenAlex: W2152986536
Cited by: 335
References: 14
FWCI: 30.30
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Funders: TULIP Laboratory of Excellence (ANR-10-LABX-41)

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The paper: Mouquet, N., Lagadeuc, Y., Devictor, V., Doyen, L., Duputié, A., Eveillard, D., Faure, D., Garnier, E., Gimenez, O., Huneman, P., Jabot, F., Jarne, P., Joly, D., Julliard, R., Kéfi, S., Kergoat, G. J., Lavorel, S., Le Gall, L., Meslin, L., . . . Loreau, M. (2015). REVIEW: Predictive ecology in a changing world. Journal of Applied Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12482

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REVIEW: Predictive ecology in a changing world

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