Priorities for synthesis research in ecologyand environmental science

• Authors: HALPERN Benjamin S.; BOETTIGER Carl; DIETZE Michael C.; GEPHART Jessica A.; GONZALEZ Patrick; GRIMM Nancy B.; GROFFMAN Peter M.; GUREVITCH Jessica; HOBBIE Sarah E.; KOMATSU Kimberly J.; KROEKER Kristy J.; LAHR Heather J.; LODGE David M.; LORTIE Christopher J.; LOWNDES Julie S. S.; MICHELI Fiorenza; POSSINGHAM Hugh P.; RUCKELSHAUS Mary H.; SCARBOROUGH Courtney; WOOD Chelsea L.; WU Grace C.; AOYAMA Lina; ARROYO Eva E.; BAHLAI Christie A.; BELLER Erin E.; BLAKE Rachael E.; BORK Karrigan S.; BRANCH Trevor A.; BROWN Norah E. M.; BRUN Julien; BRUNA Emilio M.; BUCKLEY Lauren B.; BURNETT Jessica L.; CASTORANI Max C. N.; CHENG Samantha H.; COHEN Sarah C.; COUTURE Jessica L.; CROWDER Larry B.; DEE Laura E.; DIAS Arildo S.; DIAZ-MAROTO Ignacio J.; DOWNS Martha R.; DUDNEY Joan C.; ELLIS Erle C.; EMERY Kyle A.; EURICH Jacob G.; FERRISS Bridget E.; FREDSTON Alexa; FURUKAWA Hikaru; GAGNÉ Sara A.; GARLICK Sarah R.; GARROWAY Colin J.; GAYNOR Kaitlyn M.; GONZALEZ Angélica L.; GRAMES Eliza M.; GUY-HAIM Tamar; HACKETT Ed; HALLETT Lauren M.; HARMS Tamara K.; HAULSEE Danielle E.; HAYNES Kyle J.; HAZEN Elliott L.; JARVIS Rebecca M.; JONES Kristal; KANDLIKAR Gaurav S.; KINCAID Dustin W.; KNOPE Matthew L.; KOIRALA Anil; KOLASA Jurek; KOMINOSKI John S.; KORICHEVA Julia; LANCASTER Lesley T.; LAWLOR Jake A.; LOWMAN Heili E.; MULLER-KARGER Frank E.; NORMAN Kari E. A.; NOURN Nan; O’HARA Casey C.; OU Suzanne X.; PADILLA-GAMINO Jacqueline L.; PAPPALARDO Paula; PEEK Ryan A.; PELLETIER Dominique; PLONT Stephen; PONISIO Lauren C.; PORTALES-REYES Cristina; PROVETE Diogo B.; RAES Eric J.; RAMIREZ-REYES Carlos; RAMOS Irene; RECORD Sydne; RICHARDSON Anthony J.; SALGUERO-GOMEZ Roberto; SATTERTHWAITE Erin V.; SCHMIDT Chloé; SCHWARTZ Aaron J.; SEE Craig R.; SHEA Brendan D.; SMITH Rachel S.; SOKOL Eric R.; SOLOMON Christopher T.; SPANBAUER Trisha; STEFANOUDIS Paris V.; STERNER Beckett W.; SUDBRACK Vitor; TONKIN Jonathan D.; TOWNES Ashley R.; VALLE Mireia; WALTER Jonathan A.; WHEELER Kathryn I.; WIEDER William R.; WILLIAMS David R.; WINTER Marten; WINTEROVÁ Barbora; WOODALL Lucy C.; WYMORE Adam S.; YOUNGFLESH Casey
• Year of publication: 2023
• Type: Article in Periodical
• Magazine / Source: Ecosphere
• MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Science
• Web: https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4342
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4342
• Keywords: complexity; coupled systems; diversity; ecological scale; justice; predictability; use-inspiredscience
• Description: Synthesis research in ecology and environmental science improves understanding, advances theory, identifies research priorities, and supports management strategies by linking data, ideas, and tools. Accelerating environmental challenges increases the need to focus synthesis science on the most pressing questions. To leverage input from the broader research community, we convened a virtual workshop with participants from many countries and disciplines to examine how and where synthesis can address key questions and themes in ecology and environmental science in the coming decade. Seven priority research topics emerged: (1) diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ), (2) human and natural systems, (3) actionable and use-inspired science, (4) scale, (5) generality, (6) complexity and resilience, and (7) predictability. Additionally, two issues regarding the general practice of synthesis emerged: the need for increased participant diversity and inclusive research practices; and increased and improved data flow, access, and skill-building. These topics and practices provide a strategic vision for future synthesis in ecology and environmental science.