Priorities for synthesis research in ecology and environmental science
Halpern BS., Boettiger C., Dietze MC., Gephart JA., Gonzalez P., Grimm NB., Groffman PM., Gurevitch J., Hobbie SE., Komatsu KJ., Kroeker KJ., Lahr HJ., Lodge DM., Lortie CJ., Lowndes JSS., Micheli F., Possingham HP., Ruckelshaus MH., Scarborough C., Wood CL., Wu GC., Aoyama L., Arroyo EE., Bahlai CA., Beller EE., Blake RE., Bork KS., Branch TA., Brown NEM., Brun J., Bruna EM., Buckley LB., Burnett JL., Castorani MCN., Cheng SH., Cohen SC., Couture JL., Crowder LB., Dee LE., Dias AS., Diaz-Maroto IJ., Downs MR., Dudney JC., Ellis EC., Emery KA., Eurich JG., Ferriss BE., Fredston A., Furukawa H., Gagné SA., Garlick SR., Garroway CJ., Gaynor KM., González AL., Grames EM., Guy-Haim T., Hackett E., Hallett LM., Harms TK., Haulsee DE., Haynes KJ., Hazen EL., Jarvis RM., Jones K., Kandlikar GS., Kincaid DW., Knope ML., Koirala A., Kolasa J., Kominoski JS., Koricheva J., Lancaster LT., Lawlor JA., Lowman HE., Muller-Karger FE., Norman KEA., Nourn N., O'Hara CC., Ou SX., Padilla-Gamino JL., Pappalardo P., Peek RA., Pelletier D., Plont S., Ponisio LC., Portales-Reyes C., Provete DB., Raes EJ., Ramirez-Reyes C., Ramos I., Record S., Richardson AJ., Salguero-Gómez R., Satterthwaite EV., Schmidt C., Schwartz AJ., See CR., Shea BD., Smith RS., Sokol ER.
Synthesis research in ecology and environmental science improves understanding, advances theory, identifies research priorities, and supports management strategies by linking data, ideas, and tools. Accelerating environmental challenges increases the need to focus synthesis science on the most pressing questions. To leverage input from the broader research community, we convened a virtual workshop with participants from many countries and disciplines to examine how and where synthesis can address key questions and themes in ecology and environmental science in the coming decade. Seven priority research topics emerged: (1) diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ), (2) human and natural systems, (3) actionable and use-inspired science, (4) scale, (5) generality, (6) complexity and resilience, and (7) predictability. Additionally, two issues regarding the general practice of synthesis emerged: the need for increased participant diversity and inclusive research practices; and increased and improved data flow, access, and skill-building. These topics and practices provide a strategic vision for future synthesis in ecology and environmental science.