Journal Article

Strong connections, loose coupling

Huntington, Henry P., Haynie, Alan C.

2016

Overview

Human-environment connections are the subject of much study, and the details of those connections are crucial factors in effective environmental management. In a large, interdisciplinary study of the eastern Bering Sea ecosystem involving disciplines from physical oceanography to anthropology, one of the research teams examined commercial fisheries and another looked at subsistence harvests by Alaska Natives. Commercial fisheries and subsistence harvests are extensive, demonstrating strong connections between the ecosystem and the humans who use it. At the same time, however, both research teams concluded that the influence of ecosystem conditions on the outcomes of human activities was weaker than anticipated. Likely explanations of this apparently loose coupling include the ability of fishers and hunters to adjust to variable conditions, and the role of social systems and management in moderating the direct effects of changes in the ecosystem. We propose a new conceptual model for future studies that incorporates a greater range of social factors and their dynamics, in addition to similarly detailed examinations of the ecosystem itself.

• Publisher: Resilience Alliance
• Subject: Anthropology / Aquatic ecosystems / Bering Sea / commercial fisheries / Conceptual models / Coupling / Ecology / Ecosystem management / Ecosystem studies / Ecosystems / Environmental changes / Environmental management / Environmental protection / Fisheries / Fisheries management / Fisheries science / Fishermen / Fishery economics / Fishing / Harvest / Human ecology / Human influences / human-environment connections / Humans / Indigenous peoples / Interdisciplinary aspects / Interdisciplinary studies / Marine / Marine ecology / Marine ecosystems / Ocean fisheries / Oceanography / open climate campaign / Physical oceanography / Resource management / Seas / Social dynamics / Social factors / Social systems / subsistence / Teams