A safe operating space for humanity

Nature, Journal Year: 2009, Volume and Issue: 461(7263), P. 472 - 475

Published: Sept. 1, 2009

Language: Английский

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EFFECTS OF BIODIVERSITY ON ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING: A CONSENSUS OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 2005, Volume and Issue: 75(1), P. 3 - 35

Published: Feb. 1, 2005

Humans are altering the composition of biological communities through a variety activities that increase rates species invasions and extinctions, at all scales, from local to global. These changes in components Earth's biodiversity cause concern for ethical aesthetic reasons, but they also have strong potential alter ecosystem properties goods services provide humanity. Ecological experiments, observations, theoretical developments show depend greatly on terms functional characteristics organisms present distribution abundance those over space time. Species effects act concert with climate, resource availability, disturbance regimes influencing properties. Human can modify above factors; here we focus modification these biotic controls. The scientific community has come broad consensus many aspects relationship between functioning, including points relevant management ecosystems. Further progress will require integration knowledge about abiotic controls properties, how ecological structured, forces driving extinctions invasions. To strengthen links policy management, need integrate our understanding social economic constraints practices. Understanding this complexity, while taking steps minimize current losses species, is necessary responsible ecosystems diverse biota contain. Based review literature, certain following conclusions: 1) Species' strongly influence Functional operate contexts, dominant keystone engineers, interactions among (e.g., competition, facilitation, mutualism, disease, predation). Relative alone not always good predictor ecosystem-level importance as even relatively rare predator) pathways energy material flows. 2) Alteration via caused by human altered well-documented cases. Many difficult, expensive, or impossible reverse fix technological solutions. 3) loss composition, mechanisms which manifest themselves, differ types, change. 4) Some initially insensitive because (a) may multiple carry out similar roles, (b) some contribute little (c) be primarily controlled environmental conditions. 5) More needed insure stable supply spatial temporal variability increases, typically occurs longer time periods larger areas considered. We high confidence Certain combinations complementary their patterns use average productivity nutrient retention. At same time, conditions complementarity structuring communities. Identification way complex just beginning. Susceptibility invasion exotic influenced and, under conditions, generally decreases increasing richness. However, several other factors, such propagule pressure, regime, availability success often override richness comparisons across different sites Having range respond differently perturbations stabilize process response disturbances variation Using practices maintain diversity effect types help preserve options. Uncertainties remain further research areas: resolution relationships taxonomic diversity, structure important identifying effects. Multiple trophic levels common been understudied biodiversity/ecosystem functioning research. varying consumer much more than responses seen experiments vary only primary producers. Theoretical work stability outpaced experimental work, especially field long-term able assess stability, well recovery disturbances. Design analysis must account factors covary diversity. Because both responds influences feedbacks involved results broader scales. Likely extinction linked drivers global change, communities, development effective conservation strategies. This paper focuses terrestrial systems, coverage freshwater where most empirical study focused. While fundamental principles described should apply marine realm necessary. Despite uncertainties circumstances incorporating into essential, making decisions involving large Sacrificing difficult reconstruct, simply yet extent affect restrict future options further. It incumbent upon ecologists communicate need, values derive perspective, charged decision-making.

Language: Английский

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Quantifying biodiversity: procedures and pitfalls in the measurement and comparison of species richness

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2001, Volume and Issue: 4(4), P. 379 - 391

Published: July 22, 2001

Species richness is a fundamental measurement of community and regional diversity, it underlies many ecological models conservation strategies. In spite its importance, ecologists have not always appreciated the effects abundance sampling effort on measures comparisons. We survey series common pitfalls in quantifying comparing taxon richness. These can be largely avoided by using accumulation rarefaction curves, which may based either individuals or samples. curves contain basic information for valid comparisons, including category–subcategory ratios (species‐to‐genus species‐to‐individual ratios). Rarefaction methods – both sample‐based individual‐based allow meaningful standardization comparison datasets. Standardizing data sets area produce very different results compared to standardizing number collected, clear measure diversity more appropriate. Asymptotic estimators provide lower‐bound estimates taxon‐rich groups such as tropical arthropods, observed rarely reaches an asymptote, despite intensive sampling. Recent examples studies trees, stream invertebrates, herbaceous plants emphasize importance carefully species curves.

Language: Английский

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Status of land cover classification accuracy assessment

Remote Sensing of Environment, Journal Year: 2002, Volume and Issue: 80(1), P. 185 - 201

Published: April 1, 2002

Language: Английский

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Functional diversity: back to basics and looking forward

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2006, Volume and Issue: 9(6), P. 741 - 758

Published: April 25, 2006

Abstract Functional diversity is a component of biodiversity that generally concerns the range things organisms do in communities and ecosystems. Here, we review how functional can explain predict impact on ecosystems thereby provide mechanistic link between two. Critical points developing predictive measures are choice traits with which distinguished, trait information summarized into measure diversity, validated through quantitative analyses experimental tests. There vast amount available for plant species substantial animals. Choosing to include particular will depend specific aims study. Quantitative methods choosing assigning weighting being developed, but need much more work before be confident about choice. The number ways measuring growing rapidly. We divide them four main groups. first, groups or types, has significant problems researchers frequently using not require grouped. Of these, some by summarizing distances space, estimating size dendrogram required describe difference, species’ abundances. show new important differences as well what they indicate responses assemblages loss individuals. good analytical evidence greater validation required. suggest non‐significant results have alternate explanations necessarily contradict positive effects diversity. Finally, areas development techniques used highlight exciting questions addressed ideas directions novel research.

Language: Английский

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Functional richness, functional evenness and functional divergence: the primary components of functional diversity

Oikos, Journal Year: 2005, Volume and Issue: 111(1), P. 112 - 118

Published: Sept. 14, 2005

Functional diversity is hypothesised as being beneficial for ecosystem functions, such productivity and resistance to invasion. However, a precise definition of functional diversity, hence framework its quantification, have proved elusive. We present based on the analogy components species – richness, evenness divergence. These concepts are applied characters give three demonstrate how each these may be calculated. It hoped that our will aid in elucidation mechanisms behind diversity/ecosystem‐function relationships.

Language: Английский

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Defining trained immunity and its role in health and disease

Nature reviews. Immunology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 20(6), P. 375 - 388

Published: March 4, 2020

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity and ecosystem services: a multilayered relationship

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2011, Volume and Issue: 27(1), P. 19 - 26

Published: Sept. 22, 2011

Language: Английский

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Scale and species richness: towards a general, hierarchical theory of species diversity

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2001, Volume and Issue: 28(4), P. 453 - 470

Published: April 1, 2001

Aim Current weaknesses of diversity theory include: a failure to distinguish different biogeographical response variables under the general heading diversity; and ecological deal adequately with geographical scale. Our aim is articulate case for top‐down approach building, in which scale addressed explicitly are clearly distinguished. Location The article draws upon both theoretical contributions empirical analyses from all latitudes, focusing on terrestrial ecosystems some bias towards (woody) plants. Methods We review current terminology relation applicability. As starting point developing theory, we take issue gradients species richness as main theme evaluate extent commonly cited theories likely operate at scales macro down local. Results A degree confusion surrounds use terms alpha, beta gamma diversity, local, landscape macro‐scale preferred here more intuitive framework. distinction between inventory differentiation highlighted important as, analysis, concepts focus extent. importance holding area constant analysis stressed, notion that environmental factors exhibit measurable heterogeneity scales. Evaluation several most common put forward grand clines richness, indicates they can be collapsed dynamic hypotheses based climate or historical explanations. many ecological/biological mechanisms have been proposed evident mainly local whilst dependent largely climatic controls their operation. Local communities often found not saturated, i.e. non‐equilibrial. This argued, perhaps counter‐intuitively, entirely compatible persistence through time patterns climatically determined. also incorporates recent developments macroecology, Rapoport’s rule, trade‐offs, isolation, impedance geometric constraints (the mid‐domain effect) generating patterns; highlighting those phenomena contributory first‐order pattern, those, such constraints, may confound obscure these patterns. Main conclusions must necessarily cover disparate phenomena, various cannot therefore expressed simple formula, but individual elements this be. In particular, it appears possible capture climate‐based model ‘capacity rule’, form cline woody plants macro‐scale. provides top‐down, global‐to‐local, macro‐to‐micro modelling variations variety taxa. Patterns differentiation/endemicity, other hand, require immediate attention events, features geography isolation. Thus, argue there basic physical principles laws underlying certain (e.g. gradients), pluralistic body required explanation, bridges equilibrial nonequilibrial ideas.

Language: Английский

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Functional diversity measures: an overview of their redundancy and their ability to discriminate community assembly rules

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2010, Volume and Issue: 24(4), P. 867 - 876

Published: March 15, 2010

Summary 1. Indices quantifying the functional aspect of biodiversity are essential in understanding relationships between biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and environmental constraints. Many indices diversity have been published but we lack consensus about what quantify, how redundant they which ones recommended. 2. This study aims to build a typology from artificial data sets encompassing various community structures (different assembly rules, species richness levels) identify set independent able discriminate rules. 3. Our results confirm that can be divided into three main categories, each these corresponding one diversity: richness, evenness divergence. Most highly correlated quantify while quadratic entropy ( Q ) represents mix Conversely, two (FEve FDiv respectively divergence) rather all others. The power analysis revealed some efficiently detect rules others performed poorly. 4. To accurately assess establish its with constraints, recommend investigating component separately appropriate index. Guidelines provided help choosing given issue being investigated. 5. demonstrates potential reveal processes structure biological communities. Combined complementary methods (phylogenetic taxonomic diversity), multifaceted framework will improve our interacts

Language: Английский

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