Foundations of translational ecology
Enquist, C.A., Jackson, S.T., Garfin, G.M., Davis, F.W., Gerber, L.R., Littell, J.A., Tank, J.L., Terando, A.J., Wall, T.U., Halpern, B., Hiers, J.K., Morelli, T.L., McNie, E., Stephenson, N.L., Williamson, M.A., Woodhouse, C.A., Yung, L., Brunson, M.W., Hall, K.R., Hallett, L.M., Lawson, D.M., Moritz, M.A., Nydick, K., Pairis, A., Ray, A.J., Regan, C., Safford, H.D., Schwartz, M.W., and Shaw, R., 2017. Foundations of translational ecology. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 15(10), pp.541-550. PDF.
Summary
The challenging, cross-disciplinary environmental problems of today need a new model by which to find and enact solutions. In this paper, Enquist and colleagues developed the Translational Ecology (TE) paradigm, defined as “an approach in which ecologists, stakeholders, and decision makers work together to develop research that addresses the sociological, ecological, and political contexts of an environmental problem.” The authors argue that this interdisciplinary approach based on collaboration, engagement, commitment, communication, process, and a decision-framing context are fundamental to achieving outcomes that directly serve the needs of natural resource managers and decision makers. TE goes beyond basic and even applied ecology by directing research at issues that arise from on-the-ground management and by involving stakeholders throughout research design, execution, and implementation. Examples of successful TE prove that time spent on long-term, sustained engagement between partners pays off.
Take home points
Translational ecology (TE) is an approach in which ecologists, stakeholders, and decision makers work together to develop research that addresses the sociological, ecological, and political contexts of an environmental problem.
TE works at the intersection of research and practice based on trust and committed, iterative collaborations.
TE increases the likelihood that research will inform and improve decision making for environmental management and conservation, resulting in actionable science.
Management implications
Translational Ecology is a name to something that some natural resource managers and researchers have already been doing -- collaborating to produce actionable science; Enquist et al. (2017) provide a framework for doing this intentionally and effectively.
The December 2017 issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment (freely accessible at https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/15409309/15/10) is dedicated to this topic and provide guidelines, context, and case studies for how to successfully conduct TE while navigating the constraints of management agencies and academia.
Managers and researchers should seek out collaborations with boundary organizations (RISCC and extension groups) to facilitate the co-production of actionable and transparent science.