Mutilation of the tree of life via mass extinction of animal genera

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(39)

Published: Sept. 18, 2023

Mass extinctions during the past 500 million y rapidly removed branches from phylogenetic tree of life and required millions years for evolution to generate functional replacements extinct (EX) organisms. Here we show, by examining 5,400 vertebrate genera (excluding fishes) comprising 34,600 species, that 73 became EX since 1500 AD. Beyond any doubt, human-driven sixth mass extinction is more severe than previously assessed accelerating. The current generic rates are 35 times higher expected background prevailing in last under absence human impacts. lost five centuries would have taken some 18,000 vanish beings. Current will likely greatly accelerate next few decades due drivers accompanying growth consumption enterprise such as habitat destruction, illegal trade, climate disruption. If all now-endangered were 2,100, be 354 (average) or 511 (for mammals) rates, meaning three 106,000 153,000 become humans. Such mutilation resulting loss ecosystem services provided biodiversity humanity a serious threat stability civilization. Immediate political, economic, social efforts an unprecedented scale essential if prevent these their societal

Language: Английский

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Conflict or Coordination? The Spatiotemporal Relationship Between Humans and Nature on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau

Earth s Future, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11(9)

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Abstract As the Earth's Third Pole and Asian water tower, Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP) plays a key role in global climate regulation biodiversity maintenance. Living harmony with nature is vital for local sustainable development. Current research on conflicted or coordinated relationship between humans QTP at fine spatial scale remains limited. To fill gap, we developed human activity intensity index (HAI) eco‐environmental quality (EQI) 1‐km resolution proposed four‐quadrant diagram approach to explore dynamics them. The results show development as HAI EQI both increased from 2000 2020, ratio of areas was 5:1. High were mainly big cities such Xining, Lhasa, Haidong, Xigaze, along traffic lines. significant outside Lhasa metropolitan, south Hengduan Mountains, some new roads, reduced by 8% 2000–2010 2010–2020. area high but low smallest proportion, southern Qinghai Lake, Brahlung Zangbo River, Gobi oases, western transport lines, it implies highest risk ecosystem degradation. This expands fundamental methodology address complex human‐natural relationships provides implications fragile ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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A critical analysis of plant science literature reveals ongoing inequities

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(10)

Published: Feb. 28, 2023

The field of plant science has grown dramatically in the past two decades, but global disparities and systemic inequalities persist. Here, we analyzed ~300,000 papers published over decades to quantify across nations, genders, taxonomy literature. Our analyses reveal striking geographical biases-affluent nations dominate publishing landscape vast areas globe have virtually no footprint Authors Northern America are cited nearly twice as many times authors based Sub-Saharan Africa Latin America, despite journals with similar impact factors. Gender imbalances similarly stark show remarkably little improvement time. Some most affluent extremely male biased publication records, supposed improvements gender equality. In addition, find that studies focus on economically important crop model species, a wealth biodiversity is underrepresented Taken together, our problematic system publication, persistent poorly capture scientific knowledge biological diversity. We conclude by highlighting can be addressed immediately offer suggestions for long-term solutions improve equity sciences.

Language: Английский

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Longtermist Education Interventions Increase Concern for and Action to Protect Future Generations

Social Psychological and Personality Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 31, 2024

In a contemporary landscape fraught with unprecedented challenges, it is imperative to forge strategies that transcend present concerns and equally prioritize future generations. This research, anchored in the philosophy of longtermism, seeks bridge this temporal divide. Across three pre-registered highly-powered studies, we scrutinize potential philosophical arguments underpinning longtermism foster alignment its principles, thereby catalyzing attitudes actions resonate more future-oriented approach global welfare. Leveraging scalable educational interventions through text video media formats, discern noticeable resonance these among individuals, influencing their beliefs, policy support, donation behaviors, cognitive investment directed toward betterment Our findings illuminate critical mediating role beliefs between favorable future-focused outcomes, establishing promising discourse as pragmatic tool mobilizing collective efforts safeguard our long-term future.

Language: Английский

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Underlying and proximate drivers of biodiversity changes in Mesoamerican biosphere reserves

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 121(6)

Published: Jan. 22, 2024

Protected areas are of paramount relevance to conserving wildlife and ecosystem contributions people. Yet, their conservation success is increasingly threatened by human activities including habitat loss, climate change, pollution, species overexploitation. Thus, understanding the underlying proximate drivers anthropogenic threats urgently needed improve protected areas’ effectiveness, especially in biodiversity-rich tropics. We addressed this issue analyzing expert-provided data on long-term biodiversity change (last three decades) over 14 biosphere reserves from Mesoamerican Biodiversity Hotspot. Using multivariate analyses structural equation modeling, we tested influence major socioeconomic (demographic, economic, political factors), spatial indicators (agriculture expansion road extension), forest landscape modifications (forest loss isolation) as change. uncovered a significant proliferation disturbance-tolerant guilds or decline disturbance-sensitive within causing “winner loser” replacement time. Guild was directly related changes promoted agriculture roads reserves. High population density low nonfarming occupation were identified main Our findings suggest that mitigate reserves, fostering well-being via sustainable, livelihood opportunities around imperative.

Language: Английский

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Ecological complexity and the biosphere: the next 30 years

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 377(1857)

Published: June 27, 2022

Global warming, habitat loss and overexploitation of limited resources are leading to alarming biodiversity declines. Ecosystems complex adaptive systems that display multiple alternative states can shift from one another in abrupt ways. Some these tipping points have been identified predicted by mathematical computational models. Moreover, scales involved potential mitigation or intervention scenarios tied particular levels complexity, cells human–environment coupled systems. In dealing with a biosphere where humans part complex, endangered ecological network, novel theoretical engineering approaches need be considered. At the centre most research efforts is biodiversity, which essential maintain community resilience ecosystem services. What done mitigate, counterbalance prevent points? Using 30-year window, we explore recent sense, preserve restore as well number proposed interventions (from afforestation bioengineering) directed mitigate reverse collapse. The year 2050 taken representative future horizon combines time scale deep changes will occur solutions might effective. This article theme issue ‘Ecological complexity biosphere: next 30 years’.

Language: Английский

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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

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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

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Urbanization intensifies the imbalance between human development and biodiversity conservation: Insights from the coupling analysis of human activities and habitat quality

Land Degradation and Development, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 35(11), P. 3606 - 3626

Published: May 3, 2024

Abstract Intensified human activities have been seriously threatening the structure and ecological processes of ecosystems, resulting in habitat degradation. Therefore, coordinating coupling between quality (HQ) is crucial for high‐quality sustainable regional development well‐being. This study evaluated HQ Pearl River Delta (PRD) urban agglomeration China from 2000 to 2020 using footprint index (HFI) integrated valuation ecosystem services tradeoffs model. Then, we employed bivariate spatial autocorrelation a coordination degree (CCD) model explore synergistic relationship HQ. The results show that changes were predominantly driven by activities. gradual outward expansion resulted significant Slight improvement restoration outskirts cannot offset losses caused urbanization. During period, high‐HQ low‐HFI clusters decreased 1.02%, while low‐HQ high‐HFI increased 4.67%, two main clustering types PRD. Despite CCD HFI after 2010, continuous characteristics significantly lagged type lagged. showed an inverted U‐shaped with CCD. peaks during 2000–2020 corresponded decreasing 0.711 0.566. indicates risk decoupling gradually increased. Furthermore, levels different exhibited varying over time. These reveal spatiotemporal dislocation urbanization induced nonstationarity Urbanization exacerbates imbalance biodiversity conservation. suggest reasonably delimiting boundaries, controlling scale sprawl, strengthening protection areas undergoing rapid In addition, advocate division barrier zones, buffer built‐up areas, each tailored management measures. Our findings can provide important reference agglomerations.

Language: Английский

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Managing climate-change refugia to prevent extinctions

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(9), P. 800 - 808

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

HighlightsClimate-change refugia can support biodiversity by maintaining buffered conditions despite climate change and are a critical tool for the unfolding extinction crisis.Despite their capacity to protect biodiversity, climate-change will be increasingly vulnerable impacts of multiple interacting stressors may hence require management.Effective protection under facilitated managing or newly establishing on basis factors processes that create them.Using four clear steps, appropriate actions maintain refugia, ranging from minimal management more extensive restoration efforts, determined.Identifying reduce extinctions contribute landscapes holistically managed conservation change.AbstractEarth is facing simultaneous crises. Climate-change – areas relatively help address both these problems components when surrounding landscape no longer can. However, this often severe other stressors. Thus, need consider complex multidimensional nature refugia. We outline an approach understand refugia-promoting evaluate refugial determine suitable actions. Our framework applies as tools facilitate resistance in modern planning. Such refugia-focused change.

Language: Английский

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