Integrating ecology with human demography, behavior, and socioeconomics: Needs and approaches

Humans have directly or indirectly affected almost every corner of the earth, through various activities. As a result, ecologists’ traditional subjects of study (e.g., ‘natural’ or pristine ecosystems) are disappearing, and human-dominated or -influenced ecosystems are inevitably and increasingly becoming their new focus of study. This paper discusses an urgent need to integrate ecology with human demography, behavior, and socioeconomics in order to understand and manage ecological patterns and processes. It also introduces the ten papers in this special issue, which integrate ecological, human demographic, behavioral, social, and economic factors through computer modeling and simulation. Finally, this paper provides some perspectives on further integration across disciplines.