Biocomplexity Incubation Activity: Consequences of Urban Encroachment on Natural Ecosystems

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0083325KleppelSuburbanization, the conversion of native forest, range and farmland to infrastructure intensive, ecologically simplified landscapes, is currently consuming enormous amounts of land, with generally negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. The process, however, creates a complex feed back system that results in rapid and significant increases in stress on human social and economic systems. This Biocomplexity incubation award will allow this group to (1) develop mechanisms to facilitate communication between collaborative disciplines by defining key variables and parameters, and critical linkages among natural and social forcing functions, (2) identify existing data and resources, and (3) explore possible modeling, model analysis and interpretive approaches to link the dynamics of social and natural systems in response to suburbanization