Optimal management of complex ecological systems

自然系统本质上是复杂的，难以预测。这种复杂性意味着有效的管理策略通常是不确定的，资源管理者很少有理论或规则来作为他们决策的基础。我们将把保护生物学现有的理论和原理与统计学、经济学、控制论、工程学和数学中使用的决策工具和理论结合起来。我们将使用新颖的方法来研究在面对不确定性和涉及学习的情况下做出的不同管理决策的可靠性。我们的目标是为保护生物学的一个新分支——应用理论保护生态学——发现一个通用的理论。

Natural systems are inherently complex and difficult to predict. This complexity means that efficient management strategies are often uncertain, and resource managers have few theories or rules on which to base their decisions. We will integrate the existing theories and principles of conservation biology with decision-making tools and theory used in statistics, economics, control theory, engineering and mathematics. We will use novel methods to investigate the reliability of different management decisions that are made in the face of uncertainty and involve learning. Our aim is to discover a general theory for a new branch of conservation biology: applied theoretical conservation ecology.