Gross Negligence: Impacts of Microplastics and Plastic Leachates on Phytoplankton Community and Ecosystem Dynamics

Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 57(1), P. 5 - 24

Published: Dec. 19, 2022

Plastic debris is an established environmental menace affecting aquatic systems globally. Recently, microplastics (MP) and plastic leachates (PL) have been detected in vital human organs, the vascular system, vitro animal studies positing severe health hazards. MP PL found every conceivable ecosystem─from open oceans deep sea floors to supposedly pristine glacier lakes snow covered mountain catchment sites. Many documented impacts on a variety of organisms, whereby some exclusively focus microorganisms. Yet, specific primary producers not systematically analyzed. Therefore, this review focuses threats posed by MP, PL, associated chemicals phytoplankton, their comprehensive at organismal, community, ecosystem scales, endogenous amelioration. Studies MP- PL-impacted individual phytoplankton species reveal production reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, physical damage thylakoids, other physiological metabolic changes, followed homo- heteroaggregations, ultimately eventuating decreased photosynthesis productivity. Likewise, analyses microbial community plastisphere show radically different profile compared surrounding planktonic diversity. The also enriches multidrug-resistant bacteria, cyanotoxins, pollutants, accelerating succession, changing microbiome, thus, diversity evolution. These cellular scales manifest changed dynamics with widespread bottom-up top-down effects biodiversity food web interactions. adverse effects─through altered nutrient cycling─have "knock-on" biogeochemical cycles greenhouse gases. Consequently, these affect provisioning regulating services. Our citation network (CNA) further demonstrate dire all trophic levels, thereby unsettling stability CNA points several emerging nodes indicating combined toxicity hazards phytoplankton. Taken together, our study shows that ecotoxicity particles placed ecosystems peril.

Language: Английский

---

Ocean protection quality is lagging behind quantity: Applying a scientific framework to assess real marine protected area progress against the 30 by 30 target

Conservation Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(3)

Published: May 1, 2024

Abstract The international community set a global conservation target to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030 (“30 × 30”) reverse biodiversity loss, including through marine protected areas (MPAs). However, varied MPAs result in significantly different outcomes, making MPA coverage alone an inadequate metric. We used Guide framework assess world's largest 100 area, representing nearly 90% reported and 7.3% analyzed distribution quality across political ecological regions. A quarter assessed is not implemented, one‐third incompatible with nature. Two factors contribute this outcome: (1) many lack regulations or management, (2) some allow high‐impact activities. Fully highly account for area but are unevenly distributed ecoregions part because nations have designated large, their overseas remote territories. Indicators quality, only coverage, needed ensure network that covers effectively safeguards representative ecosystems from destructive human

Language: Английский

---

World scientists’ warning: The behavioural crisis driving ecological overshoot

Science Progress, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 106(3)

Published: July 1, 2023

Previously, anthropogenic ecological overshoot has been identified as a fundamental cause of the myriad symptoms we see around globe today from biodiversity loss and ocean acidification to disturbing rise in novel entities climate change. In present paper, have examined this more deeply, explore behavioural drivers overshoot, providing evidence that is itself symptom deeper, subversive modern crisis human behaviour. We work name frame 'the Human Behavioural Crisis' propose be recognised globally critical intervention point for tackling overshoot. demonstrate how current interventions are largely physical, resource intensive, slow-moving focused on addressing (such change) rather than distal (maladaptive behaviours). argue even best-case scenarios, symptom-level unlikely avoid catastrophe or achieve ephemeral progress. three depth: economic growth; marketing; pronatalism. These directly impact 'levers' overshoot: consumption, waste population. maladaptive behaviours stemming these catalysed perpetuated by intentional exploitation previously adaptive impulses. final sections an interdisciplinary emergency response by, amongst other things, shifting social norms relating reproduction, consumption waste. seek highlight disconnect ongoing societal gulf communication between those know such scientists working within limits growth, members citizenry, influenced industry, must act.

Language: Английский

---

Blue Humanities

Published: July 14, 2023

By drawing on oceanography (marine sciences) and limnology (freshwater sciences), social sciences, the environmental humanities, field of blue humanities critically examines planet's troubled seas distressed freshwaters from various socio-cultural, literary, historical, aesthetic, ethical, theoretical perspectives. Since all waterscapes in Anthropocene are overexploited endangered sites, calls for transdisciplinary cooperation encourages thinking with water together beyond conventions tentacular anthropocentric thought. Working across many disciplines, then, challenges cultural primacy standard sea freshwater narratives promotes disanthropocentric discourses about ecologies. Engaging most pressing problems, this Element contributes to those new discursive practices a material ecocritical perspective. The authors' hypothesis is that fluid-storied matter stories we tell can change game by changing our mindset.

Language: Английский

---

Renewable Energy and Energy Reductions or Solar Geoengineering for Climate Change Mitigation?

Energies, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 15(19), P. 7315 - 7315

Published: Oct. 5, 2022

This review explores the question: should world rely wholly or partially on solar geoengineering (SG) to mitigate climate change (CC), renewable energy, together with deep energy reductions? Recent thinking is for SG only supplement more conventional mitigation methods. However, we first show that methods are not working., given global annual CO2 emissions still rising, so it far likely will be called upon counter most anthropogenic CC, as early research proposed. The paper next examines various proposals have been considered and their objectives. Future choices could between an increasingly unpredictable climate, SG, its own risks unknowns, reductions RE. claim has lower costs a forcing reduction compared methods, equally important, quickly implemented, producing temperature in year so, decades needed approaches. implementation would affect technical potential key RE sources but also actual uptake of reductions. fair comparison must recognise option requires solution rising ocean acidification (OA). Because material quantities annually OA orders magnitude larger than energetic requirements higher, time implementation.

Language: Английский

---

The biospheric emergency calls for scientists to change tactics

eLife, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: Nov. 7, 2022

Our current economic and political structures have an increasingly devastating impact on the Earth’s climate ecosystems: we are facing a biospheric emergency, with catastrophic consequences for both humans natural world which depend. Life scientists – including biologists, medical scientists, psychologists public health experts had crucial role in documenting impacts of this but they failed to drive governments take action order prevent situation from getting worse. Here we, as members movement Scientist Rebellion, call life re-embrace advocacy activism were once hallmarks academia highlight urgency necessity systemic change across our societies. We particularly emphasise need engage nonviolent civil resistance, form engagement has proven be highly effective social struggles throughout history.

Language: Английский

---

Review: Renewable Energy in an Increasingly Uncertain Future

Applied Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 13(1), P. 388 - 388

Published: Dec. 28, 2022

A number of technical solutions have been proposed for tackling global climate change. However, change is not the only serious environmental challenge we face demanding an urgent response, even though atmospheric CO2 ppm risen from 354 in 1990 to 416 2020. The rise multiple challenges makes search more difficult, because all technological give some unwanted effects. Further, must these various problems be solved same short time frame, but they will need tackled a rising international tensions, and steady population increase. This review looks particularly at how impact future prospects renewable energy (RE), given that RE growth exacerbate other equally problems, make major difference decade or so. key finding that, while world shift longer run, term what important improve Earth’s ecological sustainability by most effective means possible. It shown reducing both transport task agricultural production (while still providing adequate diet all) can far than converting used sectors RE.

Language: Английский

---

Managing marine resources sustainably – Ecological, societal and governance connectivity, coherence and equivalence in complex marine transboundary regions

Ocean & Coastal Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 245, P. 106875 - 106875

Published: Oct. 12, 2023

This overview proposes a novel typology of characteristics required to ensure that marine assessment and management is connected, coherent and/or equivalent across boundaries, both within or between national international jurisdictions. defines the types connectivity, coherence nature equivalences with their relevance examples in transboundary context. It indicates way identifying impediments be addressed boundaries sustainable adequate, it also gives overcoming those barriers. The covers natural environmental, governance (policies, politics, administration legislation), economic regimes. encompasses sector (e.g. fishing, navigation, etc.) activity-, pressures-, effects- response-footprints Maritime Spatial Planning Marine Protected Area-designation. links monitoring, reporting physico-chemical ecological realms conservation boundaries. Finally, shows equivalence should reflect wider societal cultural aspects as well approaches, principles outcomes adjacent countries (States) regions. These are summarised by analysing so-called 10-tenets for successful management. Although this developed largely from European North America perspective, proposed here validating other areas worldwide.

Language: Английский

---

Marine mammals as indicators of Anthropocene Ocean Health

npj Biodiversity, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 3(1)

Published: Sept. 10, 2024

The current state of marine mammal populations reflects increasing anthropogenic impacts on the global Ocean. Adopting a holistic approach towards health, incorporating healthy individuals and populations, these taxa present indicators health overall Ocean system. Their deterioration at animal, population ecosystem level has implications for human In Anthropocene, multiple planetary boundaries have already been exceeded, quiet tipping points in may further uncertainties. Long short-term monitoring sense is urgently required to assist evaluating reversing impact Health aid climate change mitigation.

Language: Английский

---

Practitioner insights on challenges and options for advancing blue Nature-based Solutions

Marine Policy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 163, P. 106104 - 106104

Published: March 14, 2024

The dual environmental crises of climate change and biodiversity loss pose severe threats to human health well-being. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are promoted as an important component the response simultaneously address both crises. However, their uptake in policy planning has been impeded by evidence gaps barriers implementation, particularly marine coastal systems. Here, we describe practitioner perspectives on perceived challenges implementing NbS ecosystems (blue NbS) make recommendations overcome most significant. These consensus were obtained through exploratory, qualitative workshop, attended practice stakeholders representing government non-profit organisations from across Northern Europe, that identified prioritised for in-depth discussion. Key priority were: (1) driver appropriate legislation support NbS; (2) funding mechanisms; (3) stakeholder awareness, values, engagement. Discussions highlighted successful implementation will require addressing these better collaboration, communication, longer-term projects, integration top-down bottom-up approaches management. strength, at same time difficulty, is they draw together diverse actors approaches, but improved standards needed application if realise potential. Ultimately, reducing uncertainty definition concept amongst accelerate deployment complex social-ecological

Language: Английский

---