Integrative Ecosystem Spatial Pattern Modelling
Our strategy for ecosystem spatial pattern modelling is summarized as a conceptual framework. We draw concepts from ecosystem, community, and landscape ecology, seeking to demonstrate an integrative basis for predicting the drivers and outcomes of ecosystem assembly. To illustrate practical application of our framework, we provide a workflow (Figure 1) based on a case study from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. We showcase data, analytical procedures, and interpretive guidelines required for framework operationalization, as they relate to the case study. These operational considerations are applicable to any predictive spatial model of regional ecosystem pattern. In that regard, an overarching objective of our framework is to help catalyze new perspectives and statistical methods for obtaining general insight into the origin and implications of ecosystem spatial organization. We begin by summarizing the conceptual foundation of our framework.