Research questions to facilitate the future development of European long-term ecosystem research infrastructures: A horizon scanning exercise

Distributed environmental research infrastructures are important to support assessments of the effects of global change on landscapes, ecosystems and society. These infrastructures need to provide continuity to address long-term change, yet be flexible enough to respond to rapid societal and technol...

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Published in:	Journal of environmental management Vol. 250; p. 109479
Main Authors:	Musche, Martin, Adamescu, Mihai, Angelstam, Per, Bacher, Sven, Bäck, Jaana, Buss, Heather L., Duffy, Christopher, Flaim, Giovanna, Gaillardet, Jerome, Giannakis, George V., Haase, Peter, Halada, Luboš, Kissling, W. Daniel, Lundin, Lars, Matteucci, Giorgio, Meesenburg, Henning, Monteith, Don, Nikolaidis, Nikolaos P., Pipan, Tanja, Pyšek, Petr, Rowe, Ed C., Roy, David B., Sier, Andrew, Tappeiner, Ulrike, Vilà, Montserrat, White, Tim, Zobel, Martin, Klotz, Stefan
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England Elsevier Ltd 15-11-2019
Subjects:	Annan geovetenskap och miljövetenskap Interoperability Other Earth and Related Environmental Sciences Priorities Research infrastructure Research strategies Whole system approach Priorities Research infrastructure Whole system approach Research strategies Interoperability
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Summary:	Distributed environmental research infrastructures are important to support assessments of the effects of global change on landscapes, ecosystems and society. These infrastructures need to provide continuity to address long-term change, yet be flexible enough to respond to rapid societal and technological developments that modify research priorities. We used a horizon scanning exercise to identify and prioritize emerging research questions for the future development of ecosystem and socio-ecological research infrastructures in Europe. Twenty research questions covered topics related to (i) ecosystem structures and processes, (ii) the impacts of anthropogenic drivers on ecosystems, (iii) ecosystem services and socio-ecological systems and (iv), methods and research infrastructures. Several key priorities for the development of research infrastructures emerged. Addressing complex environmental issues requires the adoption of a whole-system approach, achieved through integration of biotic, abiotic and socio-economic measurements. Interoperability among different research infrastructures needs to be improved by developing standard measurements, harmonizing methods, and establishing capacities and tools for data integration, processing, storage and analysis. Future research infrastructures should support a range of methodological approaches including observation, experiments and modelling. They should also have flexibility to respond to new requirements, for example by adjusting the spatio-temporal design of measurements. When new methods are introduced, compatibility with important long-term data series must be ensured. Finally, indicators, tools, and transdisciplinary approaches to identify, quantify and value ecosystem services across spatial scales and domains need to be advanced. •Ecosystem research infrastructures must be adapted to emerging scientific questions.•A whole system approach provides opportunities to address complex issues.•Flexibility and multiple use are key requirements for future research infrastructures.•Balancing technological developments and time series continuity is essential.•Stakeholder involvement is necessary to enable effective socio-ecological research.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 ObjectType-Review-1
ISSN:	0301-4797 1095-8630 1095-8630
DOI:	10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109479