What makes historical ecology different from other forms of ecological research is that it relies on an integration of diverse sources, including physical evidence, archaeological remains, pollen records, genetic analysis, and other information more typical of the humanities and social sciences, says McKenzie. Historical ecology includes the use of records from ship\u2019s logs, drawings, maps, diaries kept by adventurers, and oral histories that have been passed down through multiple generations.<\/p>\n
Interpreting those records, he says, requires consideration of the context in which they were accumulated, the meaning of chronological gaps in data \u2013 and how to statistically correct for them \u2013 and how to use multiple lines of evidence while understanding the limitations of each.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the fundamental tenets of historical ecology is that we know it\u2019s not enough to merely take information at face value,\u201d says McKenzie.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether we\u2019re looking at log books that recorded the number whales harvested in the North Atlantic during a certain time period, or reports of the number of bison killed on the Great Plains, or even the practices of indigenous peoples that were documented by early explorers, we know we have to factor in such things as inherent biases of observers, how well records have been preserved, and the cultural context in which observations have been recorded.\u201d<\/p>\n
We can\u2019t really talk about rebuilding global marine resources effectively if we don\u2019t have a good idea of how many there used to be. — Matthew McKenzie<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
McKenzie brings a broad perspective to the discussion. He is an associate professor of history, maritime studies, and American studies in the Department of History, teaching at the Avery Point campus. He also serves as Connecticut\u2019s delegate to the New England Fisheries Management Council, a position that puts him squarely in the middle of policy decisions relative to the region\u2019s multi-million dollar fishing industry.<\/p>\n
His role on the Council requires him to vote on practices that govern such things as fishing areas, catch limits, minimum sizes, habitat protection, and even placing moratoria on the catch of specific species if they are nearing critical population levels. As a historian, he is able to bring historical resources to bear on his input.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a lot of places throughout the world, there aren\u2019t records of any sort about marine resources in years past. But in other places, like the Atlantic basin and other parts of post-colonial Europe, there are historical records that can be very valuable if you know how to look at them,\u201d says McKenzie. \u201cWe\u2019re especially fortunate in New England, because the historical record is there, just waiting to be included in our decision-making processes.\u201d<\/p>\n
And while historical sources have sometimes invited criticism, particularly when the results contradict current assumptions, McKenzie believes these sources are essential for both ecological and conservation efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea is that we can\u2019t really talk about rebuilding global marine resources effectively if we don\u2019t have a good idea of how many there used to be,” McKenzie says. “Historical ecology helps us do that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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