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SYNTHESIZING AND

8

L  I N K I N G I  N D I C AT O R S

WH AT

LINK AGE?

The 58 indicators included in this guide were carefully

IS

selected from a much larger candidate list, using the

In general terms, a linkage is "the manner

following criteria:

or style of being united," with more specific

·  Relevance

definitions used in the fields of genetics,

·  Feasibility

linguistics, mechanical engineering, information

·  Limitations

technology and statistics.

·  Responsive to management interventions.

In this guide, we use the term "linkages" to

Our intent is that the indicator list be comprehensive,

refer to associations or connections among

yet manageable in scope. Some of the indicators

indicators.

indicators.

measure current conditions (e.g., ecosystem structure

and function), while others measure activities or

A linkage between indicators does not imply

characteristics associated with drivers of change on

causation.

causation.

the reef. Still others measure how these changes or

characteristics affect people (social well-being).

Many

Many of the 58 Healthy Reef indicators may

We chose to present all the indicators within a single

be related or associated with one another, but

conceptual framework in order to:

in some cases there is no direct correlation.

· Highlight the complex connections among ecological

Understanding the linkages among indicators

and social systems, and

requires understanding the contextual situation

· Help reef stewards directly use monitoring data to

of each indicator and may even help reveal

guide management decisions.

unforeseen relationships.

unforeseen

We encourage the sharing and synthesis of information

Linkages

Linkages can help guide the selection of indicator

from many different sources. No single manager or

suites needed to answer particular management

program can be expected to collect and interpret data

questions or scenarios (as described in the

on every indicator.

following sections).

Ultimately, we plan to provide a user-friendly and

comprehensive database of indicators to managers,

stakeholders and the public. This Web-based,

Some linkages involve causal or direct relationships,

searchable database will include a statement of

while others are more indirectly linked by another

caveats and limitations for each indicator. (For more

common variable or variables. The linkages figure (8.a)

information, see Section 10 ­ Next Steps and visit

provides a first iteration of recording these linkages.

www.healthyreefs.org).

Future iterations will include distinctive marks for more

detailed categories of linkages (different symbols for

Everything in nature is connected and this is particularly

different types of relationships) and will be refined

true in marine ecosystems. All 58 indicators presented

with broader input.

in this guide are connected to some extent, but some

indicators are more closely linked than others.

Identifying what is driving a change in an indicator

may require that multiple potential causes be

Understanding associations among the various

linked and assessed. For instance, the number of

indicators is important because it helps guide the

native languages spoken in a community and the

selection of appropriate suites of indicators that should

level of in-migration are closely related. In some

be considered in tandem to interpret any given threat

communities, in-migrants in the MAR region move to

or management question. These issues are further

a new area because of better resources or economic

discussed in Section 9 ­ From Indicators to Action.

opportunities. The introduction of new migrants may

The linkages matrix (Figure 8.a) also helps illuminate

cause a dilution of native languages. In other cases, the

the complex interactions and main influences on reef

loss of native languages may be due to the availability

ecosystem health.

of higher education that may encourage the national

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