in general terminology, a disturbance is an unnatural and disruptive event.
Similarly, modelers use uncertainty analysis to determine the influence
on model output of a parameter, given the actual variation it represents,
but the lay definition for uncertainty is merely the unknowns. Some terms,
such as validation and verification, have become so confused in the modeling literature that there are calls to abandon them altogether (Mitro 2001).
Other terms have unique meanings depending on the application (e.g., to
a mathematician a vector is a quantity specified by its magnitude and direction; to a disease specialist it is a transport agent). Furthermore, the general
public sometimes adopts scientific terms but may use them inappropriately.
The call for improved communication skills among biologists (Cannon et
al. 1996) should be particularly heeded by mathematical ecologists and
others who bridge between models and decision making. Attending to the
need to define terms and avoid jargon is part of the communication process,
and educating others about the process of modeling is also important. The
specialized words used by modelers not only add to confusion in communication, but they can also make it seem as if modelers form an exclusive
clique. The specificity of language used by scientists contributes to the belief
that models constitute a special way of communicating and thus provide
value in their own right.
6.2.2 Institutional Barriers
How an institution is organized (or is perceived to be organized) influences
how information is received and dispensed and how open the organization
is to the use of new ideas or tools, such as models. For instance, in-house
expertise may be considered more valuable than out-of-house expertise for
a particular company, agency, or group. Such groups are not amenable to
the adoption of models that were developed elsewhere. The validity of the
high regard for in-house expertise is not always strong (or even tested), but
the outcome is that the best expertise may not be used or collaborative
enterprises are not pursued. This loss of opportunity is a barrier to the
implementation of particular perspectives and tools, including models.
Communication barriers largely involve language, but also depend on
organizational structure.
The tension between centralized and decentralized expertise can also
become an obstacle in the implementation of models. For instance, some
Latin American countries have a strongly centralized government, but
decisions about resource use are often made in a decentralized manner. The
monetary and political resources lie with the centralized government, but
tools, such as modeling, are not always deployed in such a way as to
recognize the role of local decisions. Thus, the source of power and also the
location of the decision-making process should both be a part of model
design (especially inputs and outputs). Similarly, as alternative methods for
urban stormwater management are proposed in Germany (Mehler and
6. Barriers to the Use of Ecological Models in Decision Making
111
Similarly, modelers use uncertainty analysis to determine the influence
on model output of a parameter, given the actual variation it represents,
but the lay definition for uncertainty is merely the unknowns. Some terms,
such as validation and verification, have become so confused in the modeling literature that there are calls to abandon them altogether (Mitro 2001).
Other terms have unique meanings depending on the application (e.g., to
a mathematician a vector is a quantity specified by its magnitude and direction; to a disease specialist it is a transport agent). Furthermore, the general
public sometimes adopts scientific terms but may use them inappropriately.
The call for improved communication skills among biologists (Cannon et
al. 1996) should be particularly heeded by mathematical ecologists and
others who bridge between models and decision making. Attending to the
need to define terms and avoid jargon is part of the communication process,
and educating others about the process of modeling is also important. The
specialized words used by modelers not only add to confusion in communication, but they can also make it seem as if modelers form an exclusive
clique. The specificity of language used by scientists contributes to the belief
that models constitute a special way of communicating and thus provide
value in their own right.
6.2.2 Institutional Barriers
How an institution is organized (or is perceived to be organized) influences
how information is received and dispensed and how open the organization
is to the use of new ideas or tools, such as models. For instance, in-house
expertise may be considered more valuable than out-of-house expertise for
a particular company, agency, or group. Such groups are not amenable to
the adoption of models that were developed elsewhere. The validity of the
high regard for in-house expertise is not always strong (or even tested), but
the outcome is that the best expertise may not be used or collaborative
enterprises are not pursued. This loss of opportunity is a barrier to the
implementation of particular perspectives and tools, including models.
Communication barriers largely involve language, but also depend on
organizational structure.
The tension between centralized and decentralized expertise can also
become an obstacle in the implementation of models. For instance, some
Latin American countries have a strongly centralized government, but
decisions about resource use are often made in a decentralized manner. The
monetary and political resources lie with the centralized government, but
tools, such as modeling, are not always deployed in such a way as to
recognize the role of local decisions. Thus, the source of power and also the
location of the decision-making process should both be a part of model
design (especially inputs and outputs). Similarly, as alternative methods for
urban stormwater management are proposed in Germany (Mehler and
6. Barriers to the Use of Ecological Models in Decision Making
111