CSS Lab Research
Lab Focus SECAS Model Recreation Ecosystem Services Wildlife
Lab Focus & Framework
The Morse Conservation Social Science (CSS) Lab is focused on human-environment relationships, how those relationships influence our actions, and the outcomes of those actions. Dr. Morse's social-ecological complex adaptive systems (SECAS) framework and the ecosystem services (ES) framework from the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment provide the unifying structures for much of our research. The Morse CSS Lab researches topics of outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism, ecosystems services, and human dimensions of wildlife. Tools and theory from several conservation social sciences including psychology, sociology, economics, policy, and geography are applied. We use qualitative, quantitative, and spatial social science data collection and analysis methods to conduct research. |
Social-Ecological Complex Adaptive Systems (SECAS) Model
I originally developed the SECAS framework as part of my dissertation to frame interdisciplinary team research on the social and ecological drivers and outcomes of Costa Rica’s payments for ecosystem services (PES) program. |
Publications describing and applying the SECAS Model:
Articles
The fully developed SECAS theoretical framework with application to Costa Rica’s PES.
Morse, W. C., McLaughlin, B., Wulfhorst, J. D., and C. Harvey (2013). Social ecological complex adaptive systems: A framework for research on payments for ecosystem services. Urban Ecosystems, 16, 53-77.
The original version of the SECAS model with a much longer and more detailed case study of PES in Costa Rica.
Morse, W. C. (2007). Chapter 2: Social Ecological Structuration. In: Payments for environmental services in Costa Rica: Conservation and production decisions within the San Juan – La Selva Biological Corridor. Dissertation. University of Idaho & Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigatión y Enseñaza (CATIE) in Costa Rica. Pages, 8-69.
A short version of the SECAS model for in-class reading.
Morse, W.C. (2007). Linking social and ecological systems: A theoretical perspective. Ed. D.N. Laband. Emerging issues along urban-rural interfaces II: Linking land-use science and society, conference proceeding, Auburn, AL, 246-250.
Application of the SECAS model to recreation systems.
Morse, W. C. (2020). Recreation as a social-ecological complex adaptive system. Sustainability, 12(3), 753.
Book Chapters
Application of the SECAS model to urban ecosystems.
Zipperer, W., Morse, W. C., Johnson Gaither, C. (2011). Chapter 5.5 Linking Social and Ecological Systems. In: Urban Ecology: Patterns, processes and applications. Ed. Jari Niemela. Oxford University Press, 298-308.
Short presentation of the SECAS model along with two other integrative models.
Morse, W. C. (2013). Integration of frameworks, theories and models across disciplines for effective cross-disciplinary communications. In: Enhancing Interdisciplinary Communication. Eds. Stephen Crowley, Sanford Eigenbrode, Michael O'Rourke, and J. D. Wulfhorst. Sage Publications. Thousand Oaks, CA, 244-269.
The fully developed SECAS theoretical framework with application to Costa Rica’s PES.
Morse, W. C., McLaughlin, B., Wulfhorst, J. D., and C. Harvey (2013). Social ecological complex adaptive systems: A framework for research on payments for ecosystem services. Urban Ecosystems, 16, 53-77.
The original version of the SECAS model with a much longer and more detailed case study of PES in Costa Rica.
Morse, W. C. (2007). Chapter 2: Social Ecological Structuration. In: Payments for environmental services in Costa Rica: Conservation and production decisions within the San Juan – La Selva Biological Corridor. Dissertation. University of Idaho & Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigatión y Enseñaza (CATIE) in Costa Rica. Pages, 8-69.
A short version of the SECAS model for in-class reading.
Morse, W.C. (2007). Linking social and ecological systems: A theoretical perspective. Ed. D.N. Laband. Emerging issues along urban-rural interfaces II: Linking land-use science and society, conference proceeding, Auburn, AL, 246-250.
Application of the SECAS model to recreation systems.
Morse, W. C. (2020). Recreation as a social-ecological complex adaptive system. Sustainability, 12(3), 753.
Book Chapters
Application of the SECAS model to urban ecosystems.
Zipperer, W., Morse, W. C., Johnson Gaither, C. (2011). Chapter 5.5 Linking Social and Ecological Systems. In: Urban Ecology: Patterns, processes and applications. Ed. Jari Niemela. Oxford University Press, 298-308.
Short presentation of the SECAS model along with two other integrative models.
Morse, W. C. (2013). Integration of frameworks, theories and models across disciplines for effective cross-disciplinary communications. In: Enhancing Interdisciplinary Communication. Eds. Stephen Crowley, Sanford Eigenbrode, Michael O'Rourke, and J. D. Wulfhorst. Sage Publications. Thousand Oaks, CA, 244-269.
Capturing Minority Voices for Recreational Fisheries Planning
Recreational fisheries planning and management relies on an engaged public with support in the form of fishing license sales and expenditures that fund operations and provide education and outreach services. Understanding and responding to the needs of a diverse audience is an important part of the recreational fishing recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) process. Similar to other states, historic participation in recreational freshwater fishing in Alabama has been low amongst minority population segments. To improve our understanding of participation and non-participation behaviors of minority segments, we are conducting surveys and semi-structured focus group meetings with Hispanic and African American community members across Alabama. By addressing the needs of these minority segments and the tools necessary to remove barriers to participation, we will be better equipped to address recreational fisheries planning.
Designing a National Survey on People and the Environment
National Survey on Recreation and the Environment [NSRE] was the primary outdoor recreation data collection tool at the national level. State comparisons were presented along with several demographic and regional comparisons, and forecasting, providing some of the best data on large-scale long-term trends in recreation activity participation available. The data was useful for and used by state and federal agencies, researchers, and private industry. Many Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans [SCORP] used NSRE data for their state level planning. It was discontinued in mid-2014, leaving a gap in knowledge about national trends for outdoor recreation.
There are opportunities for development and expansion on that original framework. The first of these is the recognition of the many cultural services provided by public lands that may not fit into the traditional activities view of outdoor recreation such as cultural heritage, spiritual or religious experiences, education and learning, aesthetics, sense of place, and inspiration. In addition to information on cultural services, information on public values, attitudes and beliefs regarding wildlife and biodiversity conservation and other ecosystem services would provide a more holistic perspective of what the public wants from their public lands. This project seeks to develop and test a more comprehensive National Survey on People and the Environment [NSPE] that would include demand for recreation, wildlife, cultural and ecosystem services.
There are opportunities for development and expansion on that original framework. The first of these is the recognition of the many cultural services provided by public lands that may not fit into the traditional activities view of outdoor recreation such as cultural heritage, spiritual or religious experiences, education and learning, aesthetics, sense of place, and inspiration. In addition to information on cultural services, information on public values, attitudes and beliefs regarding wildlife and biodiversity conservation and other ecosystem services would provide a more holistic perspective of what the public wants from their public lands. This project seeks to develop and test a more comprehensive National Survey on People and the Environment [NSPE] that would include demand for recreation, wildlife, cultural and ecosystem services.
Climate Risk Assessment and Land Use Decision-making on the Gulf Coast of Mexico
This project seeks to understand are how climate extremes and other socio-economic factors may impact forest management and land conservation along the Gulf of Mexico. Further, we seek to understand the extent that landowners and institutional decisions will change future land use land cover (LULC) and alter water quality and flow to the coast. The causes of LULC change are both social and ecological. Socially, land use and land cover are influenced by underlying structural factors, the environmental context, and household or company decisions. Underlying structural factors include economic markets, policy, technology, cultural and demographic factors. Specific landowners’ decisions are made based on their own access to resources such as land size and potential, financial resources, and physical capital among others. Furthermore, households and companies will consider the larger environmental landscape that includes risk considerations such as flooding, hurricanes, sea-level rise, etc. The physical implementation of their land cover decisions will have both social and environmental outcomes that will influence future decisions.
Whooping Crane Outreach and Messaging on Social Media
Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) historic range ran from the Arctic Coast to Central Mexico and throughout much of the mid-west to the eastern shores of the United States. By the winter of 1941, approximately 15 Whooping Cranes remained. Numerous captive breeding, reintroduction, and recovery efforts have resulted in a rebound of the species to 750 individuals by 2017. The last remaining wild population migrates between the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas, USA and the Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta, Canada. An eastern migratory population that migrates form Wisconsin to Florida began in 2000 to aid recovery and help safeguard against extinction. The use of social media can play a critical role for conservation outreach. The main objective of this study is to understand how and by whom social media is being used to communicate messaging about Whooping Crane conservation. Through this analysis we hope to gain insight into the sources of messaging information, what the content of those messages are, and which messages seem to have the most impact.