Social-ecological systems

Course content

The course structure follows a zoom from theoretical introduction (concepts, analytical tools) towards a global overview of SES and finally towards the mangrove forest as a model SES.

Part A: Biocomplexity and Systems Ecology

Understanding change and ecosystem management:
Social-ecological change, governance and stewardship
Ecological and socio-ecological individual-based models
Complexity and social-ecological resilience in the following large-scale systems:

Drylands
Forests
Freshwater systems
Oceans and estuarine systems

Part B: Integrated Coastal Zone Management: natural dynamics, indigenous interactions and sustainable management of the mangrove forest SES

Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)

1. To provide an overview of complexity in biology from the level of organisms and their constituents to large-scale social-ecological systems (SES);

2. To understand diversity, redundance, stability, hysteresis and resilience in a functional ecological context;

3. To understand the ecological and social-ecological functioning of a global series of communities and ecosystems;

4. To understand the mangrove ecosystems as a model SES, incl. its constituents, ecology, natural and anthropogenically-induced dynamics, restoration, management and governance incl. scientific methods to monitor these.

Upon completion of the course a student must be able

i. to situate organisms into their wider functional framework (community/ecosystem/Earth system);

ii. be able to critically assess their resilience in view of natural or anthropogenic change;

iii. to track down the ecological consequences on different sublevels (environment, fauna and flora) of anthropogenically induced changes on a focus SES;

iv. be able to situate environmental chalenges in a holistic context (relationship with socio-economical factors, governance).

Teaching methods and learning activities

The course structure follows a zoom from theoretical introduction (concepts, analytical tools) towards a global overview of SES and finally towards the mangrove forest as a model SES.

Part A: Biocomplexity and Systems Ecology

Understanding change and ecosystem management

Social-ecological change, governance and stewardship

Ecological and socio-ecological individual-based models

Dryland systems

Forest systems

Freshwater systems

Oceans and estuarine systems

Part B: Integrated Coastal Zone Management

The mangrove forest as a SES , describing constituents and relationships), the links with man and integrated research.

Part B I – Mangrove forests and adjacent systems and their biocomplexity: distribution of mangrove forests and adjacent systems;faunal and floral biodiversity, incl. morphological, physiological and ethological adaptations to tropical environments and to intertidal and marine life;comparison of ecosystem function between mangrove forestsand adjacent systems;ecological mutual benefits between the tropical (coastal) ecosystems;food webs and trophic relationships.

Part B II – Ethnobiology/Socio-ecology and anthropogenical impacts on SES: spatial structures and natural dynamics; social, economical and cultural value and mangrove SES; anthropogenically induced threats on one or more ecosystems and the consequences for the other ecosystems; local vs. global patterns of change.

Part B III – Scientific research tools and approaches to study SES: monitoring, modelling and experiments (incl. management, restoration and conservation);the use of remote sensing and geographic information systems;combinatory and multivariate analyses;essentials of sustainable tropical habitat management: case-studies and management guidelines with respect to tropical ecosystems

Contribution to the teaching profile

Human-environment interactions

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

Berkes, F., J. Colding & C. Folke, 2003. Navigating Social-Ecological Systems. Building resilience for complexity and change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 393 pp.
Carson, W. & S. Schnitzer, 2008. Tropical Forest Community Ecology. Wiley Blackwell, Oxford, U.K. 517 pp.
Chapin III, S.F., G.P. Kofinas, C. Folke & M.C. Chapin, 2009. Principles of Ecosystem Stewardship: Resilience-Based Natural Resource Management in a Changing World. Springer Science, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. 402 pp.

Dahdouh-Guebas, F., J. Hugé, G.M.O. Abuchahla, S. Cannicci, L.P. Jayatissa, J.G. Kairo, S. Kodikara Arachchilage, N. Koedam, T.W.G.F. Mafaziya Nijamdeen, N. Mukherjee, M. Poti, N. Prabakaran, H.A. Ratsimbazafy, B. Satyanarayana, M. Thavanayagam, K. Vande Velde & D. Wodehouse, 2020. Reconciling nature, people and policy in the mangrove social-ecological system through the adaptive cycle heuristic. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science : 106942.

Gunderson, L.H. & L. Pritchard Jr., 2002. Resilience and the Behavior of Large-Scale Systems. Island Press, Washington D.C., US. 287 pp.
Gunderson, L.H., C.R. Allen & C.S. Holling, 2009. Foundations of Ecological Resilience. Island Press, Washington D.C., US. 496 pp.

Hogarth, P., 2007. The Biology of Mangroves and Seagrasses. Oxford University Press Inc., Oxford, UK. 273 pp.

Waycott, M., K. McMahon, J. Mellors, A. Calladine & D. Kleine, 2004. A guide to Tropical Seagrasses of the Indo-West Pacific. James Cook University, Townsville, Australia. 72 pp.

and current international research publications

Course notes

Université virtuelle

Other information

Additional information

Certain lectures, exercises, practicals or excursions jointly organised with institutions external to ULB might exceptionnally be organised during weekend or on a public holiday.

Contacts

Prof. Dr. Farid DAHDOUH-GUEBAS
www.tropimundo.eu on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn

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Systems Ecology and Resource Management Research Unit – SERM
Unité de Recherche Écologie des Systèmes et Gestion des Ressources
Département de Biologie des Organismes – DBO
Faculté des Sciences
Inter-faculty Institute for Socio-Ecological Transformations
Institut Interfacultaire des Transformations Socio-Ecologiques – iiTSE
Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB
Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50, CPi 264/1, B-1050 Bruxelles, Belgium.
Tel. +32 2 6502137 (Campus de la Plaine, Office O3.204)
E-mail : Farid.Dahdouh-Guebas@ulb.be
URL : https://serm.ulb.be/

Campus

Plaine, Outside campus ULB

Evaluation

Method(s) of evaluation

written examination
Oral examination
Group work
Other

written examination

Closed question with multiple choices (MCQ)

Oral examination

Examination with preparation

Open question with short answer
Open question with long development

Group work

Other

Oral and/or written assessment: 60% (theory, paper discussion, model discussion)

Group projects and participation: 40%

Practical exercises or excursions are assessed through continuous evaluation.

N.B. Excursions might be organised during buffer weeks (semaines tampon), holiday periods or public holidays. Students are requested to contact the professor at the onset of the semester to know the dates of the excursion.

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)