EcoService Models Library (ESML)
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Compare EMs
Which comparison is best for me?EM Variables by Variable Role
One quick way to compare ecological models (EMs) is by comparing their variables. Predictor variables show what kinds of influences a model is able to account for, and what kinds of data it requires. Response variables show what information a model is capable of estimating.
This first comparison shows the names (and units) of each EM’s variables, side-by-side, sorted by variable role. Variable roles in ESML are as follows:
- Predictor Variables
- Time- or Space-Varying Variables
- Constants and Parameters
- Intermediate (Computed) Variables
- Response Variables
- Computed Response Variables
- Measured Response Variables
EM Variables by Category
A second way to use variables to compare EMs is by focusing on the kind of information each variable represents. The top-level categories in the ESML Variable Classification Hierarchy are as follows:
- Policy Regarding Use or Management of Ecosystem Resources
- Land Surface (or Water Body Bed) Cover, Use or Substrate
- Human Demographic Data
- Human-Produced Stressor or Enhancer of Ecosystem Goods and Services Production
- Ecosystem Attributes and Potential Supply of Ecosystem Goods and Services
- Non-monetary Indicators of Human Demand, Use or Benefit of Ecosystem Goods and Services
- Monetary Values
Besides understanding model similarities, sorting the variables for each EM by these 7 categories makes it easier to see if the compared models can be linked using similar variables. For example, if one model estimates an ecosystem attribute (in Category 5), such as water clarity, as a response variable, and a second model uses a similar attribute (also in Category 5) as a predictor of recreational use, the two models can potentially be used in tandem. This comparison makes it easier to spot potential model linkages.
All EM Descriptors
This selection allows a more detailed comparison of EMs by model characteristics other than their variables. The 50-or-so EM descriptors for each model are presented, side-by-side, in the following categories:
- EM Identity and Description
- EM Modeling Approach
- EM Locations, Environments, Ecology
- EM Ecosystem Goods and Services (EGS) potentially modeled, by classification system
EM Descriptors by Modeling Concepts
This feature guides the user through the use of the following seven concepts for comparing and selecting EMs:
- Conceptual Model
- Modeling Objective
- Modeling Context
- Potential for Model Linkage
- Feasibility of Model Use
- Model Certainty
- Model Structural Information
Though presented separately, these concepts are interdependent, and information presented under one concept may have relevance to other concepts as well.
EM Identity and Description
EM ID
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EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
EM Short Name
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i-Tree Eco: Carbon storage & sequestration, USA | Alewife nutrients in stream food web, CT, USA |
EM Full Name
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i-Tree Eco carbon storage and sequestration (trees), USA | Alewife derived nutrients in stream food web, Connecticut, USA |
EM Source or Collection
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i-Tree | USDA Forest Service | None |
EM Source Document ID
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195 | 384 |
Document Author
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Nowak, D. J., Greenfield, E. J., Hoehn, R. E. and Lapoint, E. | Walters, A. W., R. T. Barnes, and D. M. Post |
Document Year
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2013 | 2009 |
Document Title
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Carbon storage and sequestration by trees in urban and community areas of the United States | Anadromous alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) contribute marine-derived nutrients to coastal stream food webs |
Document Status
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Peer reviewed and published | Peer reviewed and published |
Comments on Status
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Published journal manuscript | Published journal manuscript |
EM ID
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EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
Not applicable | Not applicable | |
Contact Name
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David J. Nowak | Annika W. Walters |
Contact Address
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USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA | Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven CT 06511 |
Contact Email
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dnowak@fs.fed.us | annika.walters@yale.edu |
EM ID
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EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
Summary Description
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ABSTRACT: "Carbon storage and sequestration by urban trees in the United States was quantified to assess the magnitude and role of urban forests in relation to climate change. Urban tree field data from 28 cities and 6 states were used to determine the average carbon density per unit of tree cover. These data were applied to statewide urban tree cover measurements to determine total urban forest carbon storage and annual sequestration by state and nationally. Urban whole tree carbon storage densities average 7.69 kg C m^2 of tree cover and sequestration densities average 0.28 kg C m^2 of tree cover per year. Total tree carbon storage in U.S. urban areas (c. 2005) is estimated at 643 million tonnes ($50.5 billion value; 95% CI = 597 million and 690 million tonnes) and annual sequestration is estimated at 25.6 million tonnes ($2.0 billion value; 95% CI = 23.7 million to 27.4 million tonnes)." | ABSTRACT: "Diadromous fish are an important link between marine and freshwater food webs. Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) strongly impact nutrient dynamics in inland waters and anadromous alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) may play a similar ecological role along the Atlantic coast. The annual spawning migration of anadromous alewife contributes, on average, 1050 g of nitrogen and 120 g of phosphorus to Bride Brook, Connecticut, USA, through excretion and mortality each year. Natural abundance stable isotope analyses indicate that this influx of marine-derived nitrogen is rapidly incorporated into the stream food web. An enriched d15N signal, indicative of a marine origin, is present at all stream trophic levels with the greatest level of enrichment coincident with the timing of the anadromous alewife spawning migration. There was no significant effect of this nutrient influx on water chemistry, leaf decomposition, or periphyton accrual. Dam removal and fish ladder construction will allow anadromous alewife to regain access to historical freshwater spawning habitats, potentially impacting food web dynamics and nutrient cycling in coastal freshwater systems." AUTHOR'S DESCRIPTION: "Here, we examine the effect of alewife-contributed marine- derived nutrients to coastal stream ecosystems in southern New England. We take a comparative approach examining streams with and without anadromous alewife runs. We use natural abundance stable isotope analyses to assess the incorporation of marine-derived nitrogen and carbon into stream food webs." |
Specific Policy or Decision Context Cited
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Not reported | Nutrients and water quality related to anadromous alewife restoration efforts |
Biophysical Context
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Urban areas 3.0% of land in U.S. and Urban/community land (5.3%) in 2000. | No additional description provided |
EM Scenario Drivers
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No scenarios presented | No scenarios presented |
EM ID
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EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
Method Only, Application of Method or Model Run
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Method + Application | Method + Application (multiple runs exist) View EM Runs |
New or Pre-existing EM?
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Application of existing model | New or revised model |
Related EMs (for example, other versions or derivations of this EM) described in ESML
EM ID
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EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
Document ID for related EM
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None | Doc-384 | Doc-383 |
EM ID for related EM
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None | EM-667 | EM-661 |
EM Modeling Approach
EM ID
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EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
EM Temporal Extent
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1989-2010 | 2005-2006 (March-July) |
EM Time Dependence
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time-dependent | time-dependent |
EM Time Reference (Future/Past)
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future time | past time |
EM Time Continuity
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discrete |
other or unclear (comment) ?Comment:Sampling conducted at discrete time periods during Alewife migration. Three sampling periods are presented in this entry. |
EM Temporal Grain Size Value
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1 | Not applicable |
EM Temporal Grain Size Unit
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Year | Not applicable |
EM ID
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EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
Bounding Type
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Geopolitical | Geopolitical |
Spatial Extent Name
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United States | New London County, Connecticut, USA |
Spatial Extent Area (Magnitude)
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>1,000,000 km^2 | 1000-10,000 km^2. |
EM ID
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EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
EM Spatial Distribution
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spatially distributed (in at least some cases) | spatially distributed (in at least some cases) |
Spatial Grain Type
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area, for pixel or radial feature | other (specify), for irregular (e.g., stream reach, lake basin) |
Spatial Grain Size
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1 m^2 | variable stream lengths |
EM ID
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EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
EM Computational Approach
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Numeric | Not applicable |
EM Determinism
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deterministic | Not applicable |
Statistical Estimation of EM
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EM ID
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EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
Model Calibration Reported?
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No | Not applicable |
Model Goodness of Fit Reported?
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No | Not applicable |
Goodness of Fit (metric| value | unit)
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None | None |
Model Operational Validation Reported?
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No | Not applicable |
Model Uncertainty Analysis Reported?
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Yes ?Comment:An error of sampling was reported, but not an error of estimation Estimation error was unknown and reported as likely larger than the error of sampling. |
Not applicable |
Model Sensitivity Analysis Reported?
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No | Not applicable |
Model Sensitivity Analysis Include Interactions?
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Not applicable | Not applicable |
EM Locations, Environments, Ecology
Terrestrial location (Classification hierarchy: Continent > Country > U.S. State [United States only])
EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
Comment:EM presents carbon storage and sequestration rates for country and by individual state |
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Marine location (Classification hierarchy: Realm > Region > Province > Ecoregion)
EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
None |
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Centroid Lat/Long (Decimal Degree)
EM ID
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EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
Centroid Latitude
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40.16 | 41.78 |
Centroid Longitude
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-99.79 | -72.17 |
Centroid Datum
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WGS84 | WGS84 |
Centroid Coordinates Status
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Estimated | Estimated |
EM ID
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EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
EM Environmental Sub-Class
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Forests | Created Greenspace | Rivers and Streams |
Specific Environment Type
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Urban forests | Coastal streams |
EM Ecological Scale
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Zone within an ecosystem | Ecological scale corresponds to the Environmental Sub-class |
Scale of differentiation of organisms modeled
EM ID
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EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
EM Organismal Scale
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Species ?Comment:Trees were identified to species for the differential growth and biomass estimates part of the analysis. |
Individual or population, within a species |
Taxonomic level and name of organisms or groups identified
EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
None Available |
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EnviroAtlas URL
EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
GAP Ecological Systems, Average Annual Precipitation | None Available |
EM Ecosystem Goods and Services (EGS) potentially modeled, by classification system
CICES v 4.3 - Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (Section > Division > Group > Class)
EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
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None |
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/national-ecosystem-services-classification-system-nescs-plus">National Ecosystem Services Classification System (NESCS) Plus</a>
(Environmental Subclass > Ecological End-Product (EEP) > EEP Subclass > EEP Modifier)
EM-24 |
EM-672 ![]() |
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None |