In the present times of global environmental change, there is growing need for qualitative methods that would describe the meanings and significance of living environments. This paper proposes ecological repertoire analysis as a qualitative observation-based method for the environmental humanities. The method proceeds from theories relevant for ecosemiotics — ecofield analysis (A. Farina), umwelt theory (J. v. Uexküll), and perceptual affordance (J. Gibson) — and takes the event to be a basic unit of study. Interaction events are defined as any observable significant interactions between participants and understood as having symptomatic qualities with regard to the broader ecosystem. The temporal and spatial pattern of the events allows for bringing forth the meaning motifs and general theme of the given environment. By interpreting activities of various animals in the framework of umwelt theory as well as the affordances that they use to relate with the environment, the method integrates the knowledge and competences of non-human species. The method is exemplified by a small study done on the shores of the river Emajõgi, conducted in August 2019 in Tartu, Estonia. Based on this study, ecological repertoire analysis appears to be a useful research method for analyzing conflicts and aggregations of different species in hybrid environments.

中文翻译：

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生态库分析：一种基于交互的多物种环境符号学研究方法

在当今全球环境变化的时代，越来越需要定性方法来描述生活环境的意义和重要性。本文提出了一种生态库分析方法，作为一种基于定性观察的环境人文方法。该方法源于与生态符号学相关的理论-生态场分析（A. Farina），umwelt理论（J. v。Uexküll）和感性承受力（J. Gibson）-并将该事件作为研究的基本单位。互动事件被定义为参与者之间任何可观察到的重大互动，并且被理解为对更广泛的生态系统具有症状性质。事件的时间和空间模式允许提出给定环境的意义主题和一般主题。通过在umwelt理论框架内解释各种动物的活动以及它们与环境相关的能力，该方法整合了非人类物种的知识和能力。该方法以2019年8月在爱沙尼亚塔尔图的Emajõgi河沿岸进行的一项小型研究为例。基于这项研究，生态库分析似乎是分析混合环境中不同物种的冲突和聚集的一种有用的研究方法。