Vanderpool, C.K., C. Harris, T. Yamaguchi, E. Wolff
Presented at the All Scientist Meeting (1999-07-20 to 1999-07-21 )
Complex interactions between demographic, economic, socio-cultural, and legal changes, and the environment have structured the history of Michigan’s agricultural and natural resources. The increasing conflicts and debates over public and private control over the environment, its resources, and their development and management are outcomes of major changes in ecosystems and social systems. Throughout Michigan’s history, shifting social trends interact with each other and with changes in landscape and land use, water quality, and fisheries and wildlife issues.Two hypotheses are explored:Using 1950 as a baseline, demographic data has been gathered and compared across decades to the present. This data forms the first part of a long-term data set on the KBS LTER site area. Data has been obtained on eleven counties in Southwest Michigan and on the urbanized areas near KBS. This data collection is nearing completion and an analysis of the import of this data for charting social systemic change is in progress. Initial indications are that the many of the changes are following patterns of demographic and socio-economic change at the national level, e.g., increased heterogeneity; migration reflecting increased presence of ex-urbanites in rural areas; expansion, contraction, and displacement in the labor force as outcome of economic cycles and restructuring.In the Fall, data collection on the structure of agriculture for five decades will begin. It is expected that we will complete that data set by the end of December. Next, data on natural resources (fisheries, wildlife, forestry, etc.) will be gathered. We will also identify key points of integration between biophysical and social system. Subsequently, we will begin to examine regional level processes impacting on the ecosystem.
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