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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Planetary Boundaries: Exploring the Safe Operating Space for Humanity

Ecology and Society, Journal Year: 2009, Volume and Issue: 14(2)

Published: Jan. 1, 2009

Rockström, J., W. Steffen, K. Noone, Å. Persson, F. S. Chapin, III, E. Lambin, T. M. Lenton, Scheffer, C. Folke, H. Schellnhuber, B. Nykvist, A. De Wit, Hughes, van der Leeuw, Rodhe, Sörlin, P. Snyder, R. Costanza, U. Svedin, Falkenmark, L. Karlberg, Corell, V. J. Fabry, Hansen, Walker, D. Liverman, Richardson, Crutzen, and Foley. 2009. Planetary boundaries:exploring the safe operating space for humanity. Ecology Society 14(2): 32. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-03180-140232

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning: Current Knowledge and Future Challenges

Science, Journal Year: 2001, Volume and Issue: 294(5543), P. 804 - 808

Published: Oct. 26, 2001

The ecological consequences of biodiversity loss have aroused considerable interest and controversy during the past decade. Major advances been made in describing relationship between species diversity ecosystem processes, identifying functionally important species, revealing underlying mechanisms. There is, however, uncertainty as to how results obtained recent experiments scale up landscape regional levels generalize across types processes. Larger numbers are probably needed reduce temporal variability processes changing environments. A major future challenge is determine dynamics, abiotic factors interact.

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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Landscape perspectives on agricultural intensification and biodiversity – ecosystem service management

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2005, Volume and Issue: 8(8), P. 857 - 874

Published: June 23, 2005

Abstract Understanding the negative and positive effects of agricultural land use for conservation biodiversity, its relation to ecosystem services, needs a landscape perspective. Agriculture can contribute high‐diversity systems, which may provide important services such as pollination biological control via complementarity sampling effects. Land‐use management is often focused on few species local processes, but in dynamic, landscapes, only diversity insurance guarantee resilience (the capacity reorganize after disturbance). Interacting experience their surrounding at different spatial scales, influences trophic interactions. Structurally complex landscapes enhance agroecosystems, compensate high‐intensity management. Organisms with high‐dispersal abilities appear drive these biodiversity patterns because recolonization ability larger resources experienced. Agri‐environment schemes (incentives farmers benefit environment) need broaden perspective take responses simple (high impact) (low into account. In allocation habitat more than are total risk. However, little knowledge relative importance make reliable recommendations difficult.

Language: Английский

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A handbook of protocols for standardised and easy measurement of plant functional traits worldwide

Australian Journal of Botany, Journal Year: 2003, Volume and Issue: 51(4), P. 335 - 335

Published: Jan. 1, 2003

There is growing recognition that classifying terrestrial plant species on the basis of their function (into 'functional types') rather than higher taxonomic identity, a promising way forward for tackling important ecological questions at scale ecosystems, landscapes or biomes. These include those vegetation responses to and effects on, environmental changes (e.g. in climate, atmospheric chemistry, land use other disturbances). also consensus about shortlist traits should underlie such functional classifications, because they have strong predictive power ecosystem change and/or themselves impacts processes. The most favoured are relatively easy inexpensive measure large numbers species. Large international research efforts, promoted by IGBP–GCTE Programme, underway screen predominant various ecosystems biomes worldwide traits. This paper provides an methodological protocol aimed standardising this effort, based among broad group scientists field. It features practical handbook with step-by-step recipes, brief information context, 28 recognised as critical large-scale questions.

Language: Английский

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New handbook for standardised measurement of plant functional traits worldwide

Australian Journal of Botany, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 61(3), P. 167 - 167

Published: Jan. 1, 2013

Plant functional traits are the features (morphological, physiological, phenological) that represent ecological strategies and determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels influence ecosystem properties. Variation in plant traits, trait syndromes, has proven useful for tackling many important questions at a range of scales, giving rise demand standardised ways measure ecologically meaningful traits. This line research been among most fruitful avenues understanding evolutionary patterns processes. It also potential both build predictive set local, regional global relationships between environment quantify wide natural human-driven processes, including changes biodiversity, impacts species invasions, alterations biogeochemical processes vegetation–atmosphere interactions. The importance these topics dictates urgent need more better data, increases value protocols quantifying variation different species, particular with power predict plant- ecosystem-level can be measured relatively easily. Updated expanded from widely used previous version, this handbook retains focus on clearly presented, applicable, step-by-step recipes, minimum text theory, not only includes updated methods previously covered, but introduces new further balance whole-plant leaf root stem regenerative puts emphasis predicting species’ effects key We hope becomes standard companion local efforts learn about responses respect present, past future.

Language: Английский

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Regime Shifts, Resilience, and Biodiversity in Ecosystem Management

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2004, Volume and Issue: 35(1), P. 557 - 581

Published: Nov. 2, 2004

▪ Abstract We review the evidence of regime shifts in terrestrial and aquatic environments relation to resilience complex adaptive ecosystems functional roles biological diversity this context. The reveals that likelihood may increase when humans reduce by such actions as removing response diversity, whole groups species, or trophic levels; impacting on via emissions waste pollutants climate change; altering magnitude, frequency, duration disturbance regimes. combined often synergistic effects those pressures can make more vulnerable changes previously could be absorbed. As a consequence, suddenly shift from desired less states their capacity generate ecosystem services. Active management governance will required sustain transform degraded into fundamentally new desirable configurations.

Language: Английский

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Predicting changes in community composition and ecosystem functioning from plant traits: revisiting the Holy Grail

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2002, Volume and Issue: 16(5), P. 545 - 556

Published: Sept. 23, 2002

Summary The concept of plant functional type proposes that species can be grouped according to common responses the environment and/or effects on ecosystem processes. However, knowledge relationships between traits associated with response plants environmental factors such as resources and disturbances (response traits), determine functions (effect biogeochemical cycling or propensity disturbance, remains rudimentary. We present a framework using concepts results from community ecology, ecology evolutionary biology provide this linkage. Ecosystem functioning is end result operation multiple filters in hierarchy scales which, by selecting individuals appropriate responses, assemblages varying trait composition. Functional linkages trade‐offs among traits, each which relates one several processes, whether not filtering different gives match, easily deduced filters. To illustrate we analyse set key While nutrient gradients strongly overlapped those determining net primary production, little direct overlap was found fire flammability. hypothesize these patterns reflect general trends. Responses resource availability would determined are also involved cycling, because both driven trade‐off acquisition conservation. On other hand, regeneration demographic known have connection adult ecophysiology, relevance This likely broadly applicable, although caution must exercised use scale, conditions context. It may selection types for vegetation models at range scales, help design experimental studies diversity properties.

Language: Английский

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