An overview of fuzzy-logic based approaches to ecology: Addressing uncertainty

The study of ecology seeks to understand the relationships between organisms and their environment and to use this knowledge to remedy environmental issues. However, the use of statistical analysis in ecology is hampered because many ecological components cannot be quantified with precision. Consequently, some ecologists have become interested in the application of fuzzy logic to accommodate ecological data, though the numbers of practitioners seems to be low as indicated by the publication record. This paper presents a framework of uncertainty to classify the types of imprecision encountered by ecologists in different parts of an ecological study. Examples are drawn from the literature to illustrate how fuzzy logic has been used to address uncertainty. Lastly, a brief discussion is given on how fuzzy logic could be used to improve the utility of avian surveys for biodiversity assessment.