Expert Knowledge and Its Application in Landscape Ecology

From the reviews:

“The volume is comprised of contributed chapters featuring a nice variety of research questions, ecosystems and approaches, all from a landscape ecology perspective. The quality of the chapters is consistently high, and the explicit focus on the application of expert knowledge (EK) is the unifying thread. … The volume was explicitly aimed at landscape ecologists, although ecologists of all stripes will find this information extremely useful. … I most certainly recommend this book to any ecologist that relies on EK in their work.” (Eric J. Gustafson, Landscape Ecology, Vol. 28, 2013)

It is not uncommon for landscape ecologists to rely on advice and input of experienced professionals, albeit informally, in conducting research and devising solutions for applied problems in conservation and management.  Given the wealth of expert knowledge available and the risks of its ad-hoc and implicit application in landscape ecology, it is essential to formalize the use of expert knowledge and establish rigor in methodology.In this context, Expert Knowledge and Its Application in Landscape Ecology explores several questions: who are experts; what is expert knowledge; and how is it elicited, characterized, and applied.  It contains:· An introduction to the concept of experts and expert knowledge for landscape ecologists· A series of research studies on methods of expert knowledge capture and applications in conservation biology, wildlife ecology, forest succession, wildland fire, ecoregionalization, and marine ecosystems; from Australia, Canada, and USA · A synthesis of the state of knowledge on expert knowledge in landscape ecology, with a review of the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating expert knowledge in landscape ecological applications. The book is written for researchers, graduate students, and practitioners in landscape ecology, focusing on conservation and management of terrestrial and marine resources.   About the Editors:Ajith H. Perera is Senior Research Scientist in the Forest Landscape Ecology Program at the Ontario Forest Research Institute, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.C. Ashton Drew is Research Associate in the North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, North Carolina State University.Chris J. Johnston is Associate Professor in the Ecosystem Science Management Program at the University of Northern British Columbia.