Bayesian belief networks: applications in ecology and natural resource management.

R.K. McCann; B.G. Marcot; R. Ellis

Treesearch

Bayesian belief networks: applications in ecology and natural resource management.

Informally Refereed

Authors:

R.K. McCann, B.G. Marcot, R. Ellis

Year:

2006

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Pacific Northwest Research Station

Source:

Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 36(12): 3053-3062

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Abstract

We review the use of Bayesian belief networks (BBNs) in natural resource management and ecology. We suggest that BBNs are useful tools for representing expert knowledge of a system, evaluating potential effects of alternative management decisions, and communicating to nonexperts about resource decision issues. BBNs can be used effectively to represent uncertainty in understanding and variability in system response, and the influence of uncertainty and variability on utilities associated with resource decisions in a risk management framework. BBN tools also lend themselves well to an adaptive-management framework by posing testable management hypotheses and incorporating new knowledge to evaluate existing management guidelines.

Keywords

Bayesian belief networks, natural resource modeling, resource management problems

Citation

McCann, R.K.; Marcot, B.G.; Ellis, R. 2006. Bayesian belief networks: applications in ecology and natural resource management. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 36(12): 3053-3062