Astro-ecology? Shifting the interdisciplinary collaboration paradigm

Abstract

We present a case study whereby ecological research on fallen trees in forest plots was advanced by a collaboration with astronomers working on the vector fields of stars and gas, and we propose a framework by which such novel collaborations can progress.

Keywords: collaboration; ecology; forests; interdisciplinary; transdisciplinary.

Figure 1

Conceptual outline of how our interdisciplinary collaboration, “Astro‐ecology,” was successful. Step 2 requires the question to be deidentified (“unpacked” into its fundamental process‐ or data‐based components). It then proceeds by asking “what would another scientist do, and what tools would they use if faced with identifying such patterns (Step 3)?” Steps 1–4 allow for a focus on looking for similarities and/or differences in data structure and modeling/analysis (Step 5). This process is also reciprocal (Step 6)—for example, ecologists may apply their expertise in working with complex systems to understanding stellar phenomenon

Figure 2

Example of a one‐hectare (100 × 100 m) plot (named “T‐BT”) located in the tall eucalypt forests of Tasmania. The background colors are gradient from low (light blue) to high (red–white). The black lines are the measured treefall events, including length and direction (black arrowhead). The red and blue arrows show the average direction of all logs as indicated by vector analysis, a method borrowed from the field of astrophysics