Using ecological concepts to understand and communicate environmental impacts of economic growth

Human society faces the daunting challenge of manipulating ecosystems to generate desired benefits without causing massive loss of biodiversity. All land/water uses by humans have consequences; a key role for ecologists is to help account for ecological costs and benefits of management actions. Freshwaters are especially vulnerable because they collect runoff, wastes, and sediment. Ecological concepts such as biological integrity, species traits, and ecosystem services can help society understand economic impacts, thereby informing management decisions. The five determinants of biological integrity -- water quality, habitat structure, flow regime, energy source, and biotic interaction -- provide a conceptual framework for assessing, mapping, and comparing ecological risks of economic activities. Ecological traits of species offer a powerful lens for predicting biotic responses, including species extinction and invasion, to anthropogenic changes in the environment. Ecosystem services provide an instructive nexus among ecological function, economic value, and conservation of biodiversity. Most ecosystem management issues can be framed as gains or losses in selected services. For example, enhancing food production via agriculture commonly reduces biodiversity and impairs drinking-water quality. Ecologists can help forge better environmental decisions by communicating their concepts and knowledge to the non-ecologists who make most decisions regarding land/water use.