title: A new framework for selecting environmental surrogates.
abstract: Surrogate concepts are used in all sub-disciplines of environmental science. However, controversy remains regarding the extent to which surrogates are useful for resolving environmental problems. Here, we argue that conflicts about the utility of surrogates (and the related concepts of indicators and proxies) often reflect context-specific differences in trade-offs between measurement accuracy and practical constraints. By examining different approaches for selecting and applying surrogates, we identify five trade-offs that correspond to key points of contention in the application of surrogates. We then present an 8-step Adaptive Surrogacy Framework that incorporates cross-disciplinary perspectives from a wide spectrum of the environmental sciences, aiming to unify surrogate concepts across disciplines and applications. Our synthesis of the science of surrogates is intended as a first step towards fully leveraging knowledge accumulated across disciplines, thus consolidating lessons learned so that they may be accessible to all those operating in different fields, yet facing similar hurdles.
authors: Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, 141 Linnaeus Way, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia. Electronic address: david.lindenmayer@anu.edu.au.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Lindenmayer
authors: Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, 141 Linnaeus Way, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Pierson
authors: Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, 141 Linnaeus Way, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: Barton
authors: Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Beger
authors: Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Bloco C2, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Branquinho
authors: Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA.
authors: Aram
authors: A
authors: Calhoun
authors: Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Caro
authors: School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA.
authors: Hamish
authors: H
authors: Greig
authors: Climate Change Response Program, United States National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Gross
authors: Finnish Environment Institute, Natural Environment Centre, Biodiversity, P.O. Box 413, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland.
authors: Jani
authors: J
authors: Heino
authors: Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA.
authors: Malcolm
authors: M
authors: Hunter
authors: Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, 141 Linnaeus Way, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Lane
authors: National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Longo
authors: Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors: Kathy
authors: K
authors: Martin
authors: Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA.
authors: William H
authors: WH
authors: McDowell
authors: Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3, Townsville MC, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia.
authors: Camille
authors: C
authors: Mellin
authors: Department of Geography and Geology, University of Turku, Turku Finland.
authors: Hanna
authors: H
authors: Salo
authors: Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, 141 Linnaeus Way, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors: Ayesha
authors: A
authors: Tulloch
authors: Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, 141 Linnaeus Way, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Westgate
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D058735:Environmental Policy; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication
keywords: Adaptive Surrogacy Framework; Decision-making; Environmental management; Indicators; Proxies