Glossary definitions

In ecology, spatial scale refers to the spatial extent of ecological processes. The responses of organisms, populations, species or communities to the environment may differ at larger or smaller scales. Choosing the scale appropriate to a given ecological process is crucial to hypothesizing and determining the underlying causes of the processes and effects involved.

A species that can thrive only in restrictive environmental conditions and can make use of only a few different (even only one) resources (for example, a flower-visiting insect that lives on the floral resources provided by one plant or a few different plants or a plant that depends on just one or only a few animal species for pollination).

An interbreeding group of organisms that is reproductively isolated from all other organisms, although there are many partial exceptions to this rule in particular taxa. Operationally, the term species is a generally agreed fundamental taxonomic unit, based on morphological or genetic similarity, that once described and accepted is associated with a unique scientific name.

The array of species in a specific sample, community, or area.

The array of species in a specific region, area, or assembly.

Species distribution models relate field observations of the presence/absence of a species to environmental predictor variables, based on statistically or theoretically derived response surfaces, for prediction and inference. The predictor variables are often climatic but can include other environmental variables.

The local extinction of a species.

The number of species within a given sample, community, or area.

Number of species.

The morphological, physiological, phonological or behavioural characteristics of an organism, that typically inform about its response to the environment and effects on the ecosystem (Lavorel & Garnier, 2002; Violle et al., 2007).

The morphological, physiological, phonological or behavioral characteristics of an organism, that typically inform about its response to the environment and effects on the ecosystem.

A well-known strong empirical relationship between the area (A) of a region or patch of habitat and the number of species (S) it contains. Over most spatial scales, a power-law relationship S = cAz provides a good fit to data, with z often around 0.25 for separate sets of regions (known as the island species-area relationship) and 0.15 for nested parts of the same region (known as the continental species-area relationship). The species- area relationship has often been used to estimate the size of an extinction debt (qv) resulting from habitat loss.

invasive alien species management (in all contexts) focused on reducing the threats and impacts of specific or multiple invasive alien species.

Specific values of nature are opinions or judgments regarding the importance of nature in a particular situation or context. Specific values can be grouped into three types: instrumental, intrinsic and relational values.

Pathogen spillover refers to the transfer of one or more pathogens from one population or species (or biotype) to another. A spillover event occurs when an infected reservoir population causes an epidemic in a novel host population.

Human impacts or natural disturbances beyond system boundaries. These effects can be positive or negative, socioeconomic or/and environmental and can be much more profound than the effects within the focal system.

Human impacts or natural disturbances beyond system boundaries. These effects can be positive or negative, socioeconomic or/and environmental and can be much more profound than the effects within the focal system (Liu et al., 2013).

The degree to which a system can continue to function if inputs, controls, or conditions are disrupted. It is a reflection of how minor a perturbation is capable of rendering the system inoperable or degraded; the types of perturbation to which the system is especially vulnerable; whether the system can “ignore” certain stresses; and the degree to which the system can be altered by surprise.

Refers to the three stages that a species must successfully transit by in an invasion process and become an invasive species.

Actors that are involved in decision making processes and implementation, either as influencing the decision-making process, or as being dependent on, and therefore facing the consequences of, the decisions (incl. Public, private and civil society actors). For the values assessment, 13 stakeholder groups have been identified that can be categorised in three categories: Influencers, affected actors and key players (See section 6.1.2.2).

Any individuals, groups or organizations who affect, or could be affected (whether positively or negatively) by a particular issue and its associated policies, decisions and action.

The collection of variables that describe the whole of the social- ecological system, including the attributes of ecosystem service providers and beneficiaries.

The collection of variables that describe the whole of the social-ecological system, including the attributes of ecosystem service providers and beneficiaries (Harrington et al., 2010).

Downscaling based on interpolation of statistical relationships between specific model or scenario metrics and predictors with higher resolution data.

see correlative model.

Based in actual observations (data).

The activity or job of protecting and being responsible for something.

The responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation actions, active restoration and the sustainable use and management of resources (N. J. Bennett et al., 2018).

The responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation actions, active restoration and the sustainable use and management of resources.

A large group of social bees (about 500 species), comprising the tribe Meliponini, characterized by a highly reduced stinger that cannot be used for defense. Stingless belong in the family Apidae, and are related to common honey bees, carpenter bees, orchid bees, and bumble bees.

Random behaviour or unpredictability of complex natural, social and economic systems, particularly in relation to future states.

Qualitative narratives which provide the descriptive framework from which quantitative exploratory scenarios can be formulated.

A mechanism that attempts to assess systematically the environmental impacts of decisions made at, what is conventionally called, levels of strategic decisions.

The formation of layers of water masses with different properties - salinity, oxygenation, density, temperature - that act as barriers to water mixing. These layers are normally arranged according to density, with the least dense water masses sitting above the more dense layers.

see direct drivers.

See Asia-Pacific region.

Subsistence is defined as the livelihood uses in which a species is used or consumed directly by the individual who obtained it from the wild and his/her/their direct social network.

Farming system emphasizing production for use rather than for sale (FAO, 1998).

The process whereby communities of plants, animals and microorganisms are replaced by others, usually more complex, over time as an area is colonized. Primary succession occurs on bare ground (e.g. after a volcanic eruption); secondary succession follows the interruption of a primary succession, e.g. after disturbances such as logging, ploughing or burning.

The process whereby communities of plants, animals and microorganisms are replaced by others, usually more complex, over time as an area is colonized. Primary succession occurs on bare ground (after a volcanic eruption); secondary succession follows the interruption of a primary succession, e.g. after disturbances such as logging, ploughing or burning.

A component of any report, providing a policy-relevant but not policy prescriptive summary of that report.

Is a component of any report, providing a policy-relevant but not policy prescriptive summary of that report.

Consists of four categories: Intercultural and inter-scientific dialogue reports that are based on the material generated at the eco-regional level by discussions between members of academic, indigenous and social organizations and that take into account the different approaches, visions and knowledge systems that exist as well as the various views and approaches to sustainable development; Workshop proceedings and materials that are either commissioned or supported by the Platform; Software or databases that facilitate the use of the Platform's reports; Guidance materials (guidance notes and guidance documents) that assist in the preparation of comprehensive and scientifically sound Platform reports and technical papers.

Consists of four categories:(a) Intercultural and interscientific dialogue reports that are based on the material generated at the ecoregional level by discussions between members of academic, indigenous and social organizations and that take into account the diff erent approaches, visions and knowledge systems that exist as well as the various views and approaches to sustainable development;(b) Workshop proceedings and materials that are either commissioned or supported by the Platform;(c) Software or databases that facilitate the use of the Platform's reports;(d) Guidance materials (guidance notes and guidance documents) that assist in the preparation of comprehensive and scientifically sound Platform reports and technical papers.

Includes strip mining, open-pit mining and mountaintop removal mining, is a broad category of mining in which soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit (the overburden) are removed.

actions, including extended programme of surveys and general surveillance (capturing unstructured and untargeted surveillance data and information from a wide range of sources), undertaken in order to directly or indirectly detect the presence of one or many invasive alien species over time

A transformation process that is multidimensional, multistakeholder, and often operates in the long-term, by which conventional systems shift to more sustainable modes of production and consumption.

The endurance of systems and processes. The organizing principle for sustainability in ecology and sociology includes the co-functioning and evolution of four interconnected domains: ecology, economics, politics and culture.

A characteristic or state whereby the needs of the present and local population can be met without compromising the ability of future generations or populations in other locations to meet their needs.

Forestry management strategies and practices designed to meet present needs without compromising the needs of future generations.