2026/05/10 by Kailin Weitkämper, Kilian Rückschloß, Tommaso Sitzia +3 · 1 voice
Environmental Science · #Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes #Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies #Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
paper · doi:10.1002/aps3.70056
openalex publication_date 2026/05/10 · openalex created_date 2026/05/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Abstract Premise Applied ecology can significantly influence policy decisions on environmental issues. Therefore, research in this field should be as transparent and reproducible as possible. Existing expertise from a broad range of disciplines should also be integrated into ecological research to allow researchers to maximize understanding of complex systems. Methods We illustrate how Pearl's causality can contribute to applied ecology. We demonstrate the implications of causal diagrams for assessing the effects of anthropogenic and abiotic factors in ecological systems, using Myricaria germanica in Italian river systems as an example. In particular, we showcase the interplay between explicit causal modeling and classical statistical techniques. Results In our example, we find that river channel width and riverbank protections are the most important factors affecting the survival of M. germanica juveniles in northern Italy. Other factors such as altitude and other human activity also impact M. germanica survival through channel width as a mediator. Discussion We demonstrate that causal diagrams can be an effective new language for ecological research. The causal diagram highlights that integrating hydrological, historical, or anthropological data could strengthen understanding of M. germanica populations in river systems. This framework facilitates interdisciplinary research and realizes the full potential of ecological datasets.