When shrub cover increases, should we describe the process as shrub encroachment, invasion, expansion or woody thickening? Does it make a difference if the shrub species is indigenous? Are foxes invasive feral vermin, or simply introduced? In a paper now available in Austral Ecology early view, we looked at associations between native mammal occurrence and Yarra Burgan Kunzea leptospermoides canopy cover in a eucalypt forest. Our findings made us wonder how much terminology might influence decision-making, even by scientists. Read more at Bron’s blog or download the paper. |
1 Comment
Elizabeth Ashman
19/3/2015 02:03:28 am
Good science means being careful not to instill human value statements (unless of course you're studying social sciences), especially emotionally evocative ones. This is science not journalism, the audience should be persuaded by the quality of the evidence and not the researchers emotional attachment to the subject matter.
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AuthorFire Ecology and Biodiversity at UniMelb Archives
July 2022
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LinksBushfire Behaviour and Management at UniMelb
Quantitative & Applied Ecology Group at UniMelb
Integrated Forest Ecosystem Research at UniMelb
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