Abstract
Research on ecosystem services (ES) has largely focused on the ecological functions that produce services or the economic valuation of the benefits provided by ecosystems. Far less research has examined public perceptions of ES, and more so ecosystem disservices (EDS), despite evidence that ecosystem properties and functions can produce beneficial or detrimental outcomes for human well-being. To address this gap, we present a robust approach to measuring beliefs about ecosystem services and disservices. With various means to confirm the validity and reliability of ES and EDS measures, we demonstrate this approach with survey data that captures residents’ perceptions about whether their local neighborhood environment (as the ecosystem of focus) provides certain positive or negative impacts in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona. The results highlight patterns in people’s views of: Desirable and undesirable biota; benefits and risks pertaining to heat and stormwater; recreational and aesthetic values; and societal nuisances and problems. Composite survey scales for overall perceptions of services and disservices are presented, in addition to more distinctive dimensions of ES and EDS. To better understand and manage ecosystems for diverse benefits, the specific survey measures and the general methodological approach can be adapted to various ecosystems and contexts.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 7 |
| Journal | Ecology and Society |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- Ecosystem services and disservices
- Environmental attitudes
- Risk perceptions
- Survey scales
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology
Cite this
Subjective evaluations of ecosystem services and disservices : an approach to creating and analyzing robust survey scales. / Larson, Kelli; Corley, Elizabeth; Andrade, Riley; Hall, Sharon; York, Abigail; Meerow, Sara; Coseo, Paul; Childers, Daniel; Hondula, David.
In: Ecology and Society, Vol. 24, No. 2, 7, 01.07.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Subjective evaluations of ecosystem services and disservices
T2 - an approach to creating and analyzing robust survey scales
AU - Larson, Kelli
AU - Corley, Elizabeth
AU - Andrade, Riley
AU - Hall, Sharon
AU - York, Abigail
AU - Meerow, Sara
AU - Coseo, Paul
AU - Childers, Daniel
AU - Hondula, David
PY - 2019/7/1
Y1 - 2019/7/1
N2 - Research on ecosystem services (ES) has largely focused on the ecological functions that produce services or the economic valuation of the benefits provided by ecosystems. Far less research has examined public perceptions of ES, and more so ecosystem disservices (EDS), despite evidence that ecosystem properties and functions can produce beneficial or detrimental outcomes for human well-being. To address this gap, we present a robust approach to measuring beliefs about ecosystem services and disservices. With various means to confirm the validity and reliability of ES and EDS measures, we demonstrate this approach with survey data that captures residents’ perceptions about whether their local neighborhood environment (as the ecosystem of focus) provides certain positive or negative impacts in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona. The results highlight patterns in people’s views of: Desirable and undesirable biota; benefits and risks pertaining to heat and stormwater; recreational and aesthetic values; and societal nuisances and problems. Composite survey scales for overall perceptions of services and disservices are presented, in addition to more distinctive dimensions of ES and EDS. To better understand and manage ecosystems for diverse benefits, the specific survey measures and the general methodological approach can be adapted to various ecosystems and contexts.
AB - Research on ecosystem services (ES) has largely focused on the ecological functions that produce services or the economic valuation of the benefits provided by ecosystems. Far less research has examined public perceptions of ES, and more so ecosystem disservices (EDS), despite evidence that ecosystem properties and functions can produce beneficial or detrimental outcomes for human well-being. To address this gap, we present a robust approach to measuring beliefs about ecosystem services and disservices. With various means to confirm the validity and reliability of ES and EDS measures, we demonstrate this approach with survey data that captures residents’ perceptions about whether their local neighborhood environment (as the ecosystem of focus) provides certain positive or negative impacts in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona. The results highlight patterns in people’s views of: Desirable and undesirable biota; benefits and risks pertaining to heat and stormwater; recreational and aesthetic values; and societal nuisances and problems. Composite survey scales for overall perceptions of services and disservices are presented, in addition to more distinctive dimensions of ES and EDS. To better understand and manage ecosystems for diverse benefits, the specific survey measures and the general methodological approach can be adapted to various ecosystems and contexts.
KW - Ecosystem services and disservices
KW - Environmental attitudes
KW - Risk perceptions
KW - Survey scales
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85070881509&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85070881509&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5751/ES-10888-240207
DO - 10.5751/ES-10888-240207
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85070881509
VL - 24
JO - Ecology and Society
JF - Ecology and Society
SN - 1708-3087
IS - 2
M1 - 7
ER -