Thursday, August 6, 2009: 8:00 AM-11:30 AM
Acoma/Zuni, Albuquerque Convention Center
OOS 39 - Integration of Science with Economic Valuation of Semi-Arid Riparian Ecosystems
In semi-arid regions like the American Southwest, human exploitation of water resources may compromise the ability of riparian areas to supply other valuable ecosystem services. Understanding these tradeoffs is critical to sound environmental decision-making, but assessing the costs and benefits of alternative management scenarios is hampered because many important ecosystem services have not been assigned market values. Tools from ecological economics (e.g., non-market valuation methods) may be useful for quantifying the value of these services and hence for evaluating the costs and benefits of alternative courses of management. Ecological science can play an important role in this process, as predicting the effects of management actions on ecosystem services requires an understanding of how alterations to key ecological and hydrologic processes will affect riparian structure and function. As in many other interdisciplinary endeavors, communicating scientific findings across disciplinary boundaries and with the public are key challenges. Our session weaves together several key components and challenges to using science for valuing ecosystem services in semi-arid riparian systems. Interdisciplinary studies conducted on the San Pedro River (Arizona) and the Middle Rio Grande (New Mexico) form a core component of the session.
Organizer:	Mark Dixon, University of South Dakota
Co-organizer:	David S. Brookshire, University of New Mexico
Moderator:	Mark Dixon, University of South Dakota
8:00 AM	OOS 39-1		The scientific foundation for ecosystem valuation in the San Pedro and the Southwest David C. Goodrich, USDA-ARS-SWRC, Investigators From, over 50 institutions, agencies, and NGO's
8:20 AM	OOS 39-2		From flows to feathers to funds: Scenario modeling of vegetation and avian changes on the San Pedro and Rio Grande Rivers for ecological valuation L. Arriana Brand, The University of Arizona, Mark Dixon, University of South Dakota, Juliet Stromberg, Arizona State University, David S. Brookshire, University of New Mexico, David C. Goodrich, USDA-ARS-SWRC, Steven Stewart, University of Arizona, Jennifer A. Thacher, University of New Mexico, Karl Benedict, University of New Mexico, Trevor Fetz, Hawks Aloft, Inc., Gail Garber, Hawks Aloft, Inc., Molly McIntosh, Bilingual Mediation, Facilitator and Interpreting LLC, Craig D. Broadbent, University of New Mexico
8:40 AM	OOS 39-3		Complex ecosystem valuation: A study in the San Pedro and Rio Grande David Brookshire, University of New Mexico, Jennifer A. Thacher, University of New Mexico, L. Arriana Brand, The University of Arizona, Mark Dixon, University of South Dakota, Karl Benedict, University of New Mexico, Juliet Stromberg, Arizona State University, David C. Goodrich, USDA-ARS-SWRC, Craig D. Broadbent, University of New Mexico, Molly McIntosh, Bilingual Mediation, Facilitator and Interpreting LLC, Steven Stewart, University of Arizona
9:00 AM	OOS 39-4		Benefit transfer of ecological values for southwestern riparian areas Steven Stewart, University of Arizona, Mark Dixon, University of South Dakota, L. Arriana Brand, The University of Arizona, David S. Brookshire, University of New Mexico, Jennifer A. Thacher, University of New Mexico, Craig D. Broadbent, University of New Mexico, Karl Benedict, University of New Mexico
9:20 AM	OOS 39-5		Hydrologic constraints and complexities in transferring evaluations of ecosystem services between river systems James Hogan, University of Arizona, Tom Meixner, University of Arizona, Scott Simpson, University of Arizona, Juliet C. Stromberg, Arizona State University
9:40 AM			Break
9:50 AM	OOS 39-6		Estimating the value of a migratory transfer service for desert riparian ecosystems Darius J. Semmens, United States Geological Survey, Jay E. Diffendorfer, United States Geological Survey
10:10 AM	OOS 39-7		Economic methods and empirical estimates of use and passive use values of instream flows for recreation and fisheries John Loomis, Colorado State University
10:30 AM	OOS 39-8		Ecosystem services, scientific information, and decision making Carl D. Shapiro, United States Geological Survey, Greg Arthaud, USDA Forest Service, Richard L. Bernknopf, U.S. Geological Survey
10:50 AM	OOS 39-9		Spatial and temporal variability in runoff chemistry across an arid urban ecosystem gradient Erika L. Gallo, The University of Arizona., Paul D. Brooks, The University of Arizona., Kathleen A. Lohse, The University of Arizona.

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See more of The 94th ESA Annual Meeting (August 2 -- 7, 2009)