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Species that respond to ecosystem change in a timely, measurable, and interpretable way can be used as sentinels of global change. Contrary to a pervasive view, we suggest that, among Carnivora, small carnivores are more appropriate sentinels than large carnivores. This reasoning is built around six key points: that, compared to large carnivores, small carnivores 1) are more species‐rich and diverse, providing more potential sentinels in many systems; 2) occupy a wider range of ecological niches, exhibiting a greater variety of sensitivities to change; 3) hold an intermediate trophic position that is more directly affected by changes at the producer, primary consumer, and tertiary consumer levels; 4) have shorter life spans and higher reproductive rates, exhibiting more rapid responses to change; 5) have smaller home ranges and are more abundant, making it easier to investigate fine‐scale management interventions; 6) are easier to monitor, manage, and manipulate. Therefore, we advocate for incorporating a middle‐out approach, in addition to the established top‐down and bottom‐up approaches, to assessing the responses of ecosystems to global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Flood risk is a growing concern in Canada's cities. Residents of these cities have differential risk according to their unique vulnerability and exposure to flood hazards. Factors related to societal structural forces, human agency, and place interact to produce vulnerability to hazards. Analysis of the factors that influence vulnerability will lead to a better understanding of how unequal vulnerability to hazards is produced among residents of cities in Canada. This article provides a critical synthesis of the hazards and political ecology literatures and then draws upon it to develop a conceptual framework for looking across scales and across actors to identify and situate the factors that influence vulnerability. The framework centres on what are referred to as indicators and determinants of vulnerability, and how they interact to produce unequal vulnerability. The framework can be used to gain insights to what produces vulnerability and how, or whether, policy measures can address these factors to equitably reduce risk. La source de l'inégalité face à la vulnérabilité aux risques d'inondation : un cadre conceptuel pour la recherche sur les dangers dans les villes canadiennes Les inondations représentent un risque pour les villes du Canada qui suscite de plus en plus d'inquiétude. Le risque auquel les résidents de ces villes sont confrontés varie selon leur propre niveau de vulnérabilité et d'exposition aux dangers d'inondation. Les facteurs liés aux forces structurelles de la société, à l'action humaine et au lieu interagissent pour engendrer la vulnérabilité aux dangers. L'analyse des facteurs qui influent sur la vulnérabilité conduira à une meilleure compréhension des différentes manières dont l'inégalité face à la vulnérabilité aux dangers est engendrée entre les résidents des villes canadiennes. Cet article présente une synthèse critique des corpus de textes scientifiques sur les dangers et l'écologie politique à partir de laquelle a été élaboré un cadre conceptuel permettant d'identifier et de situer les facteurs qui influent sur la vulnérabilité en transcendant les échelles et les acteurs. Le cadre conceptuel est axé sur ce que l'on désigne par indicateurs et déterminants de la vulnérabilité, et sur la façon dont ils interagissent pour engendrer l'inégalité face à la vulnérabilité. Le cadre conceptuel permet d'améliorer la connaissance de ce qui peut engendrer la vulnérabilité et comment, ou si, des actions politiques peuvent mieux tenir compte de ces facteurs en vue de réduire le risque de façon équitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)