Keryn B. Gedan, Denise L. Breitburg, Robin M. Grossinger, and Torben C. Rick
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780520276949
- eISBN:
- 9780520959606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520276949.003.0008
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Nature
The appropriate role of historical information in ecosystem restoration is a topic of debate within restoration ecology, as the discipline and the practice of restoration adapt to keep up with the ...
More
The appropriate role of historical information in ecosystem restoration is a topic of debate within restoration ecology, as the discipline and the practice of restoration adapt to keep up with the increasing demands and challenges of multiple human impacts and global climate change. Whereas historical data have traditionally been used to define restoration baselines and criteria for success, current practice emphasizes a less prescriptive and more process-based interpretation of historical data. In addition to these traditional applications, in this chapter, Keryn Gedan, Denise L Breitburg, Robin Grossinger, and Torben C. Rick describe the broader use of historical information to describe landscape processes and linkages and understand ecosystem trajectories and controls by examining historical responses of ecosystems to human impacts, disturbances, and climate changes. Historical ecology can also inform restoration sustainability and the identification of novel ecosystems. Despite the challenges of restoring ecosystems within larger, often highly modified landscapes and the need to manage ecosystems to be resilient to global environmental change, ecosystem restorations make sense only in the light of history.Less
The appropriate role of historical information in ecosystem restoration is a topic of debate within restoration ecology, as the discipline and the practice of restoration adapt to keep up with the increasing demands and challenges of multiple human impacts and global climate change. Whereas historical data have traditionally been used to define restoration baselines and criteria for success, current practice emphasizes a less prescriptive and more process-based interpretation of historical data. In addition to these traditional applications, in this chapter, Keryn Gedan, Denise L Breitburg, Robin Grossinger, and Torben C. Rick describe the broader use of historical information to describe landscape processes and linkages and understand ecosystem trajectories and controls by examining historical responses of ecosystems to human impacts, disturbances, and climate changes. Historical ecology can also inform restoration sustainability and the identification of novel ecosystems. Despite the challenges of restoring ecosystems within larger, often highly modified landscapes and the need to manage ecosystems to be resilient to global environmental change, ecosystem restorations make sense only in the light of history.
Victor D. Thompson and James C. Waggoner Jr. (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- May 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780813042428
- eISBN:
- 9780813043074
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University Press of Florida
- DOI:
- 10.5744/florida/9780813042428.001.0001
- Subject:
- Archaeology, Historical Archaeology
The purpose of this book is to engender ideas and discussion regarding broader issues related to historical ecology. The unifying topic of the case studies presented in this volume is that they deal ...
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The purpose of this book is to engender ideas and discussion regarding broader issues related to historical ecology. The unifying topic of the case studies presented in this volume is that they deal with groups that are pursuing small-scale economies. Small-scale economies in this context refer to groups primarily making their living by hunting, gathering, fishing, or limited agricultural endeavors. The volume is divided into two sections. Part I consists of historical ecology case studies of small-scale economies from various regions around the world, including Denmark, California's Channel Islands, Japan, the Georgia Coast, Mexico and American Southwest, Coastal Brazil, and the mountains of Montana. The case studies span a wide variety of climates and encompass a temporal scale that begins in the late Pleistocene and extends to modern-day groups. In Part II, researchers from multiple disciplines, including anthropology and ecology, offer their thoughts and perspectives on the themes explored in the volume as a whole and the theoretical future of historical ecology. All the contributors to this volume consider the relevance of such inquiry with respect to modern society's interaction with the environment.Less
The purpose of this book is to engender ideas and discussion regarding broader issues related to historical ecology. The unifying topic of the case studies presented in this volume is that they deal with groups that are pursuing small-scale economies. Small-scale economies in this context refer to groups primarily making their living by hunting, gathering, fishing, or limited agricultural endeavors. The volume is divided into two sections. Part I consists of historical ecology case studies of small-scale economies from various regions around the world, including Denmark, California's Channel Islands, Japan, the Georgia Coast, Mexico and American Southwest, Coastal Brazil, and the mountains of Montana. The case studies span a wide variety of climates and encompass a temporal scale that begins in the late Pleistocene and extends to modern-day groups. In Part II, researchers from multiple disciplines, including anthropology and ecology, offer their thoughts and perspectives on the themes explored in the volume as a whole and the theoretical future of historical ecology. All the contributors to this volume consider the relevance of such inquiry with respect to modern society's interaction with the environment.
Natalie C. Ban, John N. Kittinger, John M. Pandolfi, Robert L. Pressey, Ruth H. Thurstan, Matt J. Lybolt, and Simon Hart
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780520276949
- eISBN:
- 9780520959606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520276949.003.0010
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Nature
Historical perspectives are relevant to marine conservation, yet rarely integrated into planning efforts. Marine conservation planning is concerned with measures that should be taken in the future. ...
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Historical perspectives are relevant to marine conservation, yet rarely integrated into planning efforts. Marine conservation planning is concerned with measures that should be taken in the future. It usually focuses on mitigating anticipated adverse changes caused by current and future human activities, with the assumption that present conditions should be maintained. In this chapter, Natalie C. Ban, John N. Kittinger, John Pandolfi, Robert L. Pressey, Ruth Thurstan, Matthew J. Lybolt, and Simon Hart show that without incorporating historical data and analysis, such approaches, in the best case, will cause us to aim too low and, in the worst case, can result in inappropriate targets for planning and management. We review the role that historical perspectives can provide in marine conservation planning, highlight planning exercises in which this has occurred or has been discussed, and provide recommendations for researchers and planners. Using the systematic conservation-planning framework, we show that each planning stage benefits from a historical perspective, and we illustrate that failure to consider historical information reduces the effectiveness of marine conservation planning. We posit that historical perspectives may shift the conservation focus from restoring previous ecosystem states to recovering critical ecosystem functions that maintain resilience. Historical perspectives can change the conservation vision for a region, providing a window onto possibilities for the future.Less
Historical perspectives are relevant to marine conservation, yet rarely integrated into planning efforts. Marine conservation planning is concerned with measures that should be taken in the future. It usually focuses on mitigating anticipated adverse changes caused by current and future human activities, with the assumption that present conditions should be maintained. In this chapter, Natalie C. Ban, John N. Kittinger, John Pandolfi, Robert L. Pressey, Ruth Thurstan, Matthew J. Lybolt, and Simon Hart show that without incorporating historical data and analysis, such approaches, in the best case, will cause us to aim too low and, in the worst case, can result in inappropriate targets for planning and management. We review the role that historical perspectives can provide in marine conservation planning, highlight planning exercises in which this has occurred or has been discussed, and provide recommendations for researchers and planners. Using the systematic conservation-planning framework, we show that each planning stage benefits from a historical perspective, and we illustrate that failure to consider historical information reduces the effectiveness of marine conservation planning. We posit that historical perspectives may shift the conservation focus from restoring previous ecosystem states to recovering critical ecosystem functions that maintain resilience. Historical perspectives can change the conservation vision for a region, providing a window onto possibilities for the future.
Francesco Ferretti, Larry B. Crowder, and Fiorenza Micheli
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780520276949
- eISBN:
- 9780520959606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520276949.003.0004
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Nature
When reconstructing long-term changes in marine ecosystems and populations of marine animals, historical data are needed to encompass the natural scale of population dynamics, disentangle short-term ...
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When reconstructing long-term changes in marine ecosystems and populations of marine animals, historical data are needed to encompass the natural scale of population dynamics, disentangle short-term variability from longer fluctuations, and describe events that occurred decades or centuries ago. Historical data, however, are often difficult to obtain, vary greatly in format and quality, and were less consistently collected than most modern quantitative data. Concern for incorrectly integrating such different sources of information across long time periods means that many historical datasets are used only in part—or not at all. However, for many locations, such datasets provide the only sources of information on changes to populations or ecosystems. In this chapter, Francesco Ferretti, Larry B. Crowder, and Fiorenza Micheli review methods for accessing and incorporating disparate forms of historical data into quantitative historical reconstructions for marine species. We show how reconstructing historical baselines and documenting long-term changes can provide a powerful means to engage the public and motivate and inform policy reform. We illustrate this approach by highlighting Mediterranean fisheries and historical analyses of sharks and rays, a region and species group characterized by long histories of exploitation.Less
When reconstructing long-term changes in marine ecosystems and populations of marine animals, historical data are needed to encompass the natural scale of population dynamics, disentangle short-term variability from longer fluctuations, and describe events that occurred decades or centuries ago. Historical data, however, are often difficult to obtain, vary greatly in format and quality, and were less consistently collected than most modern quantitative data. Concern for incorrectly integrating such different sources of information across long time periods means that many historical datasets are used only in part—or not at all. However, for many locations, such datasets provide the only sources of information on changes to populations or ecosystems. In this chapter, Francesco Ferretti, Larry B. Crowder, and Fiorenza Micheli review methods for accessing and incorporating disparate forms of historical data into quantitative historical reconstructions for marine species. We show how reconstructing historical baselines and documenting long-term changes can provide a powerful means to engage the public and motivate and inform policy reform. We illustrate this approach by highlighting Mediterranean fisheries and historical analyses of sharks and rays, a region and species group characterized by long histories of exploitation.
Catherine Marzin, Sian Evans, and Karen Alexander
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780520276949
- eISBN:
- 9780520959606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520276949.003.0011
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Nature
Marine historical ecology powerfully frames ocean issues. It reveals rich new storylines and opportunities for new constituencies in the public to identify with a specific place or time in history. ...
More
Marine historical ecology powerfully frames ocean issues. It reveals rich new storylines and opportunities for new constituencies in the public to identify with a specific place or time in history. Historical anecdote, personal experience, and imagery, which are less polarizing than some conservation messages, can create interest among people who may not naturally care about fish, the sea, or the health of the marine environment. In this chapter, using the concept of framing, Catherine Marzin, Sian Evans, and Karen Alexander describe mechanisms to engage the public via old and new media. Exciting the imagination on an individual level, marine historical ecology can create a sense of ownership and recognition of the need for ocean stewardship. New outreach strategies can be developed, utilizing all the tools of new media including discoverability, social participation, and mobility. Historians and scientists can harness the power of history and scientific observation in new arcs of storytelling across new media platforms—social, textual, and visual.Less
Marine historical ecology powerfully frames ocean issues. It reveals rich new storylines and opportunities for new constituencies in the public to identify with a specific place or time in history. Historical anecdote, personal experience, and imagery, which are less polarizing than some conservation messages, can create interest among people who may not naturally care about fish, the sea, or the health of the marine environment. In this chapter, using the concept of framing, Catherine Marzin, Sian Evans, and Karen Alexander describe mechanisms to engage the public via old and new media. Exciting the imagination on an individual level, marine historical ecology can create a sense of ownership and recognition of the need for ocean stewardship. New outreach strategies can be developed, utilizing all the tools of new media including discoverability, social participation, and mobility. Historians and scientists can harness the power of history and scientific observation in new arcs of storytelling across new media platforms—social, textual, and visual.
John N. Kittinger, Loren McClenachan, Keryn B. Gedan, and Louise K. Blight (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780520276949
- eISBN:
- 9780520959606
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520276949.001.0001
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Nature
This edited volume offers a blueprint for using marine historical ecology to confront the challenges of ocean conservation in a rapidly changing world. Marine historical ecology developed out of the ...
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This edited volume offers a blueprint for using marine historical ecology to confront the challenges of ocean conservation in a rapidly changing world. Marine historical ecology developed out of the growing realization that societies have altered marine ecosystems for millennia. As this interdisciplinary field has deepened our understanding of oceans past, so too has it become increasingly relevant to conservation, management, and policy. In this book, we focus on four critical challenges that confront marine conservation: (1) recovering endangered species; (2) conserving fisheries; (3) restoring ecosystems; and (4) engaging the public. Using insights from marine historical ecology, the book's contributors advance science-based conservation solutions and highlight practical ways to enable their uptake in the policy and conservation realm. Each chapter showcases practical examples of how historical data can be used in the conservation of marine ecosystems, drawing on real-world and theoretical examples. By focusing preferentially on stories of recovery and applied solutions, we hope this volume will embolden readers with new ideas and tools to restore ocean environments and resilient coastal communities.Less
This edited volume offers a blueprint for using marine historical ecology to confront the challenges of ocean conservation in a rapidly changing world. Marine historical ecology developed out of the growing realization that societies have altered marine ecosystems for millennia. As this interdisciplinary field has deepened our understanding of oceans past, so too has it become increasingly relevant to conservation, management, and policy. In this book, we focus on four critical challenges that confront marine conservation: (1) recovering endangered species; (2) conserving fisheries; (3) restoring ecosystems; and (4) engaging the public. Using insights from marine historical ecology, the book's contributors advance science-based conservation solutions and highlight practical ways to enable their uptake in the policy and conservation realm. Each chapter showcases practical examples of how historical data can be used in the conservation of marine ecosystems, drawing on real-world and theoretical examples. By focusing preferentially on stories of recovery and applied solutions, we hope this volume will embolden readers with new ideas and tools to restore ocean environments and resilient coastal communities.
John N. Kittinger, Louise K. Blight, Keryn B. Gedan, and Loren Mcclenachan
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780520276949
- eISBN:
- 9780520959606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520276949.003.0001
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Nature
Why do we need marine historical ecology and conservation? The fact is that since Darwin's On the Origin of Species, we have become quite good at inferring what existed—in terms of animals and ...
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Why do we need marine historical ecology and conservation? The fact is that since Darwin's On the Origin of Species, we have become quite good at inferring what existed—in terms of animals and plants—if only because we have (a) fossils and (b) a powerful theory which allows, nay demands, that we interpolate between the forms we know existed, because we have fossils, and the forms for which we have no direct evidence but which we can link to present forms, including us humans.
The Earth's ecosystems have all been modified by human activities, and this applies also to essentially all marine ecosystems, which whaling and hunting of other marine mammals, and later fishing, have reduced to shadows of their former selves in terms of the larger organisms they now support and the benefits they can provide us.
Some of these ecosystem modifications were unavoidable, but to a large extent, the depredations that we have imposed on the oceans have been entirely gratuitous. It is perfectly reasonable to ask ourselves how we could prevent such catastrophes in the future and whether we can rebuild now depleted populations of marine organisms so as to reduce the risk of this occurring again, and to have more to enjoy.
This is what marine historical ecology in conservation is for: to inform us about what these populations have been in the past, and under which conditions these populations could flourish so that we can start helping them do so.Less
Why do we need marine historical ecology and conservation? The fact is that since Darwin's On the Origin of Species, we have become quite good at inferring what existed—in terms of animals and plants—if only because we have (a) fossils and (b) a powerful theory which allows, nay demands, that we interpolate between the forms we know existed, because we have fossils, and the forms for which we have no direct evidence but which we can link to present forms, including us humans.
The Earth's ecosystems have all been modified by human activities, and this applies also to essentially all marine ecosystems, which whaling and hunting of other marine mammals, and later fishing, have reduced to shadows of their former selves in terms of the larger organisms they now support and the benefits they can provide us.
Some of these ecosystem modifications were unavoidable, but to a large extent, the depredations that we have imposed on the oceans have been entirely gratuitous. It is perfectly reasonable to ask ourselves how we could prevent such catastrophes in the future and whether we can rebuild now depleted populations of marine organisms so as to reduce the risk of this occurring again, and to have more to enjoy.
This is what marine historical ecology in conservation is for: to inform us about what these populations have been in the past, and under which conditions these populations could flourish so that we can start helping them do so.
Heike K. Lotze
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780520276949
- eISBN:
- 9780520959606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520276949.003.0002
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Nature
Over the past centuries and decades, high exploitation pressure has led to strong declines in a wide range of marine mammal, bird, reptile, and fish populations. Today, many species are at low ...
More
Over the past centuries and decades, high exploitation pressure has led to strong declines in a wide range of marine mammal, bird, reptile, and fish populations. Today, many species are at low abundance levels, endangered, or extinct on a regional or global scale. Yet throughout history, people have responded to declining resource abundance by implementing management and conservation measures. Sometimes these measures were successful and resulted in recovery; other times, they failed. Such successes and failures can serve as guides for conservation and management efforts aiming at preventing further biodiversity loss and restoring functioning ecosystems. This chapter, by Heike Lotze, highlights the role of marine historical ecology in assessing the magnitude and success of recovery by analyzing long-term population trends. It presents an overview of trajectories of recovery and non-recovery across a range of species and taxonomic groups, and it discusses the major drivers enabling recovery. It also assesses how common recovery is among depleted populations and what the timeline and magnitude of recoveries have been. Finally, it evaluates how knowledge from marine historical ecology can be applied to improve current management strategies and future conservation planning to foster further recoveries in marine ecosystems.Less
Over the past centuries and decades, high exploitation pressure has led to strong declines in a wide range of marine mammal, bird, reptile, and fish populations. Today, many species are at low abundance levels, endangered, or extinct on a regional or global scale. Yet throughout history, people have responded to declining resource abundance by implementing management and conservation measures. Sometimes these measures were successful and resulted in recovery; other times, they failed. Such successes and failures can serve as guides for conservation and management efforts aiming at preventing further biodiversity loss and restoring functioning ecosystems. This chapter, by Heike Lotze, highlights the role of marine historical ecology in assessing the magnitude and success of recovery by analyzing long-term population trends. It presents an overview of trajectories of recovery and non-recovery across a range of species and taxonomic groups, and it discusses the major drivers enabling recovery. It also assesses how common recovery is among depleted populations and what the timeline and magnitude of recoveries have been. Finally, it evaluates how knowledge from marine historical ecology can be applied to improve current management strategies and future conservation planning to foster further recoveries in marine ecosystems.
Philine S.E. Zu Ermgassen, Mark D. Spalding, and Robert D. Brumbaugh
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780520276949
- eISBN:
- 9780520959606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520276949.003.0009
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Nature
Restoration is undertaken not only to reverse habitat losses but also to recover the many valuable ecosystem services associated with coastal habitats. While ecosystem services are increasingly being ...
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Restoration is undertaken not only to reverse habitat losses but also to recover the many valuable ecosystem services associated with coastal habitats. While ecosystem services are increasingly being used to define restoration objectives for a number of marine and terrestrial habitats, historical estimates of ecosystem service delivery are rare, in part due to the difficulty of making such estimates. However, by combining historical data with an understanding of the habitat characteristics (e.g., density or habitat complexity) and environmental conditions (e.g., salinity, location relative to other habitats) that influence service provision, historical estimates of ecosystem services can be used to target restoration efforts and management practices toward the desired outcomes. Oyster reefs have suffered an estimated 85 percent decline globally over the past 150 years, and there are growing efforts to restore oyster reefs at a large scale to recover oyster fishery, fish production, water quality, and other ecosystem services. In this chapter, Philine zu Ermgassen, Mark D. Spalding, and Robert D. Brumbaugh explore the estimation of historical provision of ecosystem services in oyster reefs as a case study to understand the ecological and socially relevant reference points that these estimates provide for restoration goals.Less
Restoration is undertaken not only to reverse habitat losses but also to recover the many valuable ecosystem services associated with coastal habitats. While ecosystem services are increasingly being used to define restoration objectives for a number of marine and terrestrial habitats, historical estimates of ecosystem service delivery are rare, in part due to the difficulty of making such estimates. However, by combining historical data with an understanding of the habitat characteristics (e.g., density or habitat complexity) and environmental conditions (e.g., salinity, location relative to other habitats) that influence service provision, historical estimates of ecosystem services can be used to target restoration efforts and management practices toward the desired outcomes. Oyster reefs have suffered an estimated 85 percent decline globally over the past 150 years, and there are growing efforts to restore oyster reefs at a large scale to recover oyster fishery, fish production, water quality, and other ecosystem services. In this chapter, Philine zu Ermgassen, Mark D. Spalding, and Robert D. Brumbaugh explore the estimation of historical provision of ecosystem services in oyster reefs as a case study to understand the ecological and socially relevant reference points that these estimates provide for restoration goals.
William Balée
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- May 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780813042428
- eISBN:
- 9780813043074
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Florida
- DOI:
- 10.5744/florida/9780813042428.003.0011
- Subject:
- Archaeology, Historical Archaeology
This summary takes a retrospective view of the preceding substantive and analytical chapters. These chapters bespeak new and significant findings relevant to the research program of historical ...
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This summary takes a retrospective view of the preceding substantive and analytical chapters. These chapters bespeak new and significant findings relevant to the research program of historical ecology. They treat specifically the biotic and historical consequences of the interactions between foragers and landscapes and between foragers and seascapes. Most of the book deals with archaeological time periods, but evidence from the more recent past in an ethnohistorical context is also presented. Deep time is rendered accessible in this volume thanks to advances in archaeological methods and procedures, as well as an increasingly sophisticated—and nuanced—view of the environment and the activities of foraging societies within it.Less
This summary takes a retrospective view of the preceding substantive and analytical chapters. These chapters bespeak new and significant findings relevant to the research program of historical ecology. They treat specifically the biotic and historical consequences of the interactions between foragers and landscapes and between foragers and seascapes. Most of the book deals with archaeological time periods, but evidence from the more recent past in an ethnohistorical context is also presented. Deep time is rendered accessible in this volume thanks to advances in archaeological methods and procedures, as well as an increasingly sophisticated—and nuanced—view of the environment and the activities of foraging societies within it.
Jon M. Erlandson, Todd J. Braje, Robert L. Delong, and Torben C. Rick
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780520276949
- eISBN:
- 9780520959606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520276949.003.0003
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Nature
In this chapter, Jon M. Erlandson, Todd J. Braje, Robert L. DeLong, and Torben C. Rick examine the process of novel community reassembly following historical overharvest, through an examination of ...
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In this chapter, Jon M. Erlandson, Todd J. Braje, Robert L. DeLong, and Torben C. Rick examine the process of novel community reassembly following historical overharvest, through an examination of the historical ecology of pinnipeds along North America's Pacific Coast. We compare changes in the biogeography of ancient versus modern pinniped populations, and we discuss the implications for the use of archaeological records in conservation biology and environmental management. Driven to the brink of extinction by commercial hunting in historic times, several Pacific Coast pinniped species have recovered dramatically under federal and state protection. Pacific Coast archaeological records show that humans hunted pinnipeds for at least the past twelve thousand years, for instance, and that the ancient distribution and abundance of northern elephant seals and Guadalupe fur seals differed significantly from today. Knowledge of such long-term anthropogenic changes, along with a dearth of data about the “natural” state of Pacific Coast pinniped populations, raises interesting questions about the nature and sustainability of conservation efforts.Less
In this chapter, Jon M. Erlandson, Todd J. Braje, Robert L. DeLong, and Torben C. Rick examine the process of novel community reassembly following historical overharvest, through an examination of the historical ecology of pinnipeds along North America's Pacific Coast. We compare changes in the biogeography of ancient versus modern pinniped populations, and we discuss the implications for the use of archaeological records in conservation biology and environmental management. Driven to the brink of extinction by commercial hunting in historic times, several Pacific Coast pinniped species have recovered dramatically under federal and state protection. Pacific Coast archaeological records show that humans hunted pinnipeds for at least the past twelve thousand years, for instance, and that the ancient distribution and abundance of northern elephant seals and Guadalupe fur seals differed significantly from today. Knowledge of such long-term anthropogenic changes, along with a dearth of data about the “natural” state of Pacific Coast pinniped populations, raises interesting questions about the nature and sustainability of conservation efforts.
William J. Meyer and Carole L. Crumley
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- March 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780199567959
- eISBN:
- 9780191804410
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780199567959.003.0003
- Subject:
- History, Ancient History / Archaeology
This chapter advances historical ecology as one of a number of approaches to new studies of the first millennium BC. It provides guidelines on how a research team might organize a historical ...
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This chapter advances historical ecology as one of a number of approaches to new studies of the first millennium BC. It provides guidelines on how a research team might organize a historical ecological project (in this case, a study of Atlantic Europe during the first millennium BC).Less
This chapter advances historical ecology as one of a number of approaches to new studies of the first millennium BC. It provides guidelines on how a research team might organize a historical ecological project (in this case, a study of Atlantic Europe during the first millennium BC).
J. B. Mackinnon
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780520276949
- eISBN:
- 9780520959606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520276949.003.0012
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Nature
Marine historical ecologists frequently cite the need for better storytelling to make their research meaningful to society at large. In this chapter, James B. MacKinnon provides a review of ...
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Marine historical ecologists frequently cite the need for better storytelling to make their research meaningful to society at large. In this chapter, James B. MacKinnon provides a review of literature from this discipline, which points to a promising area of narrative focus. The view of nature as a relatively fixed commodity predominates in public discourse. A historical perspective, however, suggests that the natural world that surrounds us can be seen in large part as a product of choice, with the tragic decline of the marine environment the result of choices made without the benefit of social memory. This understanding places a high value on historical context and offers a forward-looking alternative to familiar narratives of past and present guilt and greed. Most importantly, it affirms that the debate over marine conservation is fundamentally about individual and collective values, in which everyone has a stake.Less
Marine historical ecologists frequently cite the need for better storytelling to make their research meaningful to society at large. In this chapter, James B. MacKinnon provides a review of literature from this discipline, which points to a promising area of narrative focus. The view of nature as a relatively fixed commodity predominates in public discourse. A historical perspective, however, suggests that the natural world that surrounds us can be seen in large part as a product of choice, with the tragic decline of the marine environment the result of choices made without the benefit of social memory. This understanding places a high value on historical context and offers a forward-looking alternative to familiar narratives of past and present guilt and greed. Most importantly, it affirms that the debate over marine conservation is fundamentally about individual and collective values, in which everyone has a stake.
Todd J. Braje and Torben C. Rick
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520267268
- eISBN:
- 9780520948976
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520267268.003.0013
- Subject:
- Biology, Animal Biology
Overfishing, pollution, climate change, mismanagement, and other factors have resulted in severely depleted marine ecosystems and anthropogenic seascapes. Steps have been taken to reverse trends, ...
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Overfishing, pollution, climate change, mismanagement, and other factors have resulted in severely depleted marine ecosystems and anthropogenic seascapes. Steps have been taken to reverse trends, mitigate damage, and restore degraded fisheries and marine ecosystems to a more “natural” balance. This book has demonstrated, based on archaeological and historical data, that hunting and scavenging have affected pinnipeds and sea otters over long time periods. This chapter revisits the issues associated with the archaeology and historical ecology of pinnipeds and sea otters in the northeastern Pacific Coast. It examines how ancient peoples from southern California to Alaska influenced and impacted ancient pinniped and sea otter abundance, biogeography, and behavior. It also discusses the effects of ancient climate changes on pinnipeds, sea otters, and human society, and how the effects of human impacts can be distinguished from natural climatic changes.Less
Overfishing, pollution, climate change, mismanagement, and other factors have resulted in severely depleted marine ecosystems and anthropogenic seascapes. Steps have been taken to reverse trends, mitigate damage, and restore degraded fisheries and marine ecosystems to a more “natural” balance. This book has demonstrated, based on archaeological and historical data, that hunting and scavenging have affected pinnipeds and sea otters over long time periods. This chapter revisits the issues associated with the archaeology and historical ecology of pinnipeds and sea otters in the northeastern Pacific Coast. It examines how ancient peoples from southern California to Alaska influenced and impacted ancient pinniped and sea otter abundance, biogeography, and behavior. It also discusses the effects of ancient climate changes on pinnipeds, sea otters, and human society, and how the effects of human impacts can be distinguished from natural climatic changes.
Todd J. Braje, Torben C. Rick, Robert L. DeLong, and Jon M. Erlandson
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520267268
- eISBN:
- 9780520948976
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520267268.003.0012
- Subject:
- Biology, Animal Biology
California's Channel Islands currently shelter more than 200,000 pinnipeds of six different species, and more than a dozen large and small cetacean species also swim through or are seasonally ...
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California's Channel Islands currently shelter more than 200,000 pinnipeds of six different species, and more than a dozen large and small cetacean species also swim through or are seasonally resident in island waters. This chapter explores the archaeology and historical ecology of California Channel Island marine mammals and analyzes the available historical and archaeological evidence for marine mammal hunting in the area. It also draws on archaeological, historical, and ecological data to examine the resilience and reorganization of marine mammal populations on Channel Islands over the past 12,000 years. It summarizes key aspects of the natural history of those North Pacific marine mammals that reside in or visit southern California waters today and were the target of ancient Native hunters and scavengers in the past. After a brief summary of modern marine mammal behavior, natural history, and distribution in the Santa Barbara Bight, the chapter synthesizes the archaeological record of island marine mammal hunting.Less
California's Channel Islands currently shelter more than 200,000 pinnipeds of six different species, and more than a dozen large and small cetacean species also swim through or are seasonally resident in island waters. This chapter explores the archaeology and historical ecology of California Channel Island marine mammals and analyzes the available historical and archaeological evidence for marine mammal hunting in the area. It also draws on archaeological, historical, and ecological data to examine the resilience and reorganization of marine mammal populations on Channel Islands over the past 12,000 years. It summarizes key aspects of the natural history of those North Pacific marine mammals that reside in or visit southern California waters today and were the target of ancient Native hunters and scavengers in the past. After a brief summary of modern marine mammal behavior, natural history, and distribution in the Santa Barbara Bight, the chapter synthesizes the archaeological record of island marine mammal hunting.
Alan M. Friedlander, Joshua Nowlis, and Haruko Koike
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780520276949
- eISBN:
- 9780520959606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520276949.003.0005
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Nature
The health of fisheries is difficult to assess, because catches are only partially recorded and abundance cannot be directly observed. Understanding the status of fisheries requires an estimate of ...
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The health of fisheries is difficult to assess, because catches are only partially recorded and abundance cannot be directly observed. Understanding the status of fisheries requires an estimate of what they are capable of producing in the absence of fishing, yet data rarely extends back to pre-exploitation states. Without catch and abundance estimates across a range of fish densities, it is difficult to estimate the capacity of a fishery. Historical data (historical, archaeological, and geological records; ecological reconstructions; local and traditional ecological knowledge) provide that information. These data can help managers avoid “shifting baseline syndrome,” in which stock-rebuilding programs are influenced by the most recent peak in productivity. Such approaches can also help small fisheries, where standard assessments and assumptions aren't applicable and where historically based analyses can provide scientific advice to guide management. This chapter, by Alan M. Friedlander, Joshua Sladek Nowlis, and Haruko Koike, shows how historical data can inform fishery assessment, using case studies from small tropical fisheries, which present complex challenges due to the number of species exploited, the variety of gear employed, and the diffuse nature of fishing locations and landing sites. Communities worldwide are combining historical data and local knowledge to manage fisheries. By incorporating these data, we bring insight into the past yield of these ecosystems and provide guidance for future management.Less
The health of fisheries is difficult to assess, because catches are only partially recorded and abundance cannot be directly observed. Understanding the status of fisheries requires an estimate of what they are capable of producing in the absence of fishing, yet data rarely extends back to pre-exploitation states. Without catch and abundance estimates across a range of fish densities, it is difficult to estimate the capacity of a fishery. Historical data (historical, archaeological, and geological records; ecological reconstructions; local and traditional ecological knowledge) provide that information. These data can help managers avoid “shifting baseline syndrome,” in which stock-rebuilding programs are influenced by the most recent peak in productivity. Such approaches can also help small fisheries, where standard assessments and assumptions aren't applicable and where historically based analyses can provide scientific advice to guide management. This chapter, by Alan M. Friedlander, Joshua Sladek Nowlis, and Haruko Koike, shows how historical data can inform fishery assessment, using case studies from small tropical fisheries, which present complex challenges due to the number of species exploited, the variety of gear employed, and the diffuse nature of fishing locations and landing sites. Communities worldwide are combining historical data and local knowledge to manage fisheries. By incorporating these data, we bring insight into the past yield of these ecosystems and provide guidance for future management.
John N. Kittinger, Joshua E. Cinner, Shankar Aswani, and Alan T. White
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780520276949
- eISBN:
- 9780520959606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520276949.003.0007
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Nature
In many parts of the world, marine resource governance systems include aspects of customary marine tenure and traditional sociocultural institutions for resource management. These practices are ...
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In many parts of the world, marine resource governance systems include aspects of customary marine tenure and traditional sociocultural institutions for resource management. These practices are rooted in historical context and vary by culture and location, with place-specific practices and customs that are based on local knowledge systems. In this chapter, John N. Kittinger, Josh E. Cinner, Shankar Aswani, and Alan White review the incorporation of customary practices into contemporary management, highlighting the roles of social history, changes in customary practices and their application in and influence on modern legal and policy contexts. Next, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrating historical management practices into modern governance systems. We also assess whether comanagement and participatory approaches can be used to hybridize customary and contemporary management approaches. We explore the viability of devolving resource governance to local levels within the context of conventional governance systems. We conclude by looking to the future in the application of integrated management systems and their potential to address social-ecological challenges in coastal areas facing increasing population densities and growing dependence on coastal and marine resources.Less
In many parts of the world, marine resource governance systems include aspects of customary marine tenure and traditional sociocultural institutions for resource management. These practices are rooted in historical context and vary by culture and location, with place-specific practices and customs that are based on local knowledge systems. In this chapter, John N. Kittinger, Josh E. Cinner, Shankar Aswani, and Alan White review the incorporation of customary practices into contemporary management, highlighting the roles of social history, changes in customary practices and their application in and influence on modern legal and policy contexts. Next, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrating historical management practices into modern governance systems. We also assess whether comanagement and participatory approaches can be used to hybridize customary and contemporary management approaches. We explore the viability of devolving resource governance to local levels within the context of conventional governance systems. We conclude by looking to the future in the application of integrated management systems and their potential to address social-ecological challenges in coastal areas facing increasing population densities and growing dependence on coastal and marine resources.
Amber D. Manfree
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- September 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780520276086
- eISBN:
- 9780520957329
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520276086.003.0002
- Subject:
- Biology, Ecology
Landscape change in Suisun Marsh is best understood as a continuum, allowing us to compare and contrast shifting influences on ecological processes. The historical record reveals differential rates ...
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Landscape change in Suisun Marsh is best understood as a continuum, allowing us to compare and contrast shifting influences on ecological processes. The historical record reveals differential rates and types of ecological changes in subregions of this wetland before reclamation activities such as diking and water diversion began. Underlying geomorphic processes that are obscured by contemporary management practices can inform future strategies, and a clearer picture of the biotic community can help set appropriate targets for diversity, abundance, and functionality.Less
Landscape change in Suisun Marsh is best understood as a continuum, allowing us to compare and contrast shifting influences on ecological processes. The historical record reveals differential rates and types of ecological changes in subregions of this wetland before reclamation activities such as diking and water diversion began. Underlying geomorphic processes that are obscured by contemporary management practices can inform future strategies, and a clearer picture of the biotic community can help set appropriate targets for diversity, abundance, and functionality.
Iain McKechnie and Rebecca J. Wigen
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520267268
- eISBN:
- 9780520948976
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520267268.003.0007
- Subject:
- Biology, Animal Biology
Marine mammals (pinnipeds, cetaceans, and sea otters) have been important to the First Nations people in coastal British Columbia for millennia, but their archaeological distribution is poorly known. ...
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Marine mammals (pinnipeds, cetaceans, and sea otters) have been important to the First Nations people in coastal British Columbia for millennia, but their archaeological distribution is poorly known. While archaeological evidence of marine mammal hunting is known for numerous locations over the past 10,000 years of human occupation on the British Columbia Coast, few studies have examined archaeological evidence of mammalian hunting traditions on broad regional and/or temporal scales. This chapter analyzes archaeological evidence on the historical ecology of pinniped and sea otter hunting traditions, focusing on archaeological assemblages along the coast of southern British Columbia. It examines the spatiotemporal extent of human hunting and the possible influence of humans on this aspect of the marine environment. It also discusses the potential significance that hunting these animals had to First Nations cultures in the region. Drawing on archaeological and ethnographic information, it looks at the patterns of use of marine mammals by First Nations people over the past 8,000 years.Less
Marine mammals (pinnipeds, cetaceans, and sea otters) have been important to the First Nations people in coastal British Columbia for millennia, but their archaeological distribution is poorly known. While archaeological evidence of marine mammal hunting is known for numerous locations over the past 10,000 years of human occupation on the British Columbia Coast, few studies have examined archaeological evidence of mammalian hunting traditions on broad regional and/or temporal scales. This chapter analyzes archaeological evidence on the historical ecology of pinniped and sea otter hunting traditions, focusing on archaeological assemblages along the coast of southern British Columbia. It examines the spatiotemporal extent of human hunting and the possible influence of humans on this aspect of the marine environment. It also discusses the potential significance that hunting these animals had to First Nations cultures in the region. Drawing on archaeological and ethnographic information, it looks at the patterns of use of marine mammals by First Nations people over the past 8,000 years.
Dalal Al-Abdulrazzak, Dirk Zeller, and Daniel Pauly
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780520276949
- eISBN:
- 9780520959606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520276949.003.0006
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Nature
Global fisheries catch statistics are often incomplete. The contribution of many sectors, including small-scale fisheries, illegal catches, and discards are frequently absent from or underreported in ...
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Global fisheries catch statistics are often incomplete. The contribution of many sectors, including small-scale fisheries, illegal catches, and discards are frequently absent from or underreported in statistics submitted annually by member countries of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This incomplete accounting in official statistics—and the resulting distorted historical trends—impairs our understanding of the management and policy prescriptions necessary for fisheries sustainability. This chapter, by Dalal Al-Abdulrazzak, Daniel Pauly, and Dirk Zeller, describes an approach to retroactively estimate catches where comprehensive time series data are lacking. Data are gathered from nontraditional sources, such as unpublished studies, gray literature, and published studies and surveys, or from sources unrelated to fisheries, such as satellite imagery. We present examples of the discrepancy between reported and reconstructed catches and discuss the implications of such misreporting for management and fisheries policy on national, regional, and global scales.Less
Global fisheries catch statistics are often incomplete. The contribution of many sectors, including small-scale fisheries, illegal catches, and discards are frequently absent from or underreported in statistics submitted annually by member countries of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This incomplete accounting in official statistics—and the resulting distorted historical trends—impairs our understanding of the management and policy prescriptions necessary for fisheries sustainability. This chapter, by Dalal Al-Abdulrazzak, Daniel Pauly, and Dirk Zeller, describes an approach to retroactively estimate catches where comprehensive time series data are lacking. Data are gathered from nontraditional sources, such as unpublished studies, gray literature, and published studies and surveys, or from sources unrelated to fisheries, such as satellite imagery. We present examples of the discrepancy between reported and reconstructed catches and discuss the implications of such misreporting for management and fisheries policy on national, regional, and global scales.
