Pervasive human-driven decline of life on Earth points to the need for transformative change

Science, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 366(6471)

Published: Dec. 13, 2019

The human impact on life Earth has increased sharply since the 1970s, driven by demands of a growing population with rising average per capita income. Nature is currently supplying more materials than ever before, but this come at high cost unprecedented global declines in extent and integrity ecosystems, distinctness local ecological communities, abundance number wild species, domesticated varieties. Such changes reduce vital benefits that people receive from nature threaten quality future generations. Both an expanding economy costs reducing nature's are unequally distributed. fabric which we all depend-nature its contributions to people-is unravelling rapidly. Despite severity threats lack enough progress tackling them date, opportunities exist change trajectories through transformative action. action must begin immediately, however, address root economic, social, technological causes deterioration.

Language: Английский

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The broad footprint of climate change from genes to biomes to people

Science, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 354(6313)

Published: Nov. 11, 2016

Accumulating impacts Anthropogenic climate change is now in full swing, our global average temperature already having increased by 1°C from preindustrial levels. Many studies have documented individual of the changing that are particular to species or regions, but accumulating and being amplified more broadly. Scheffers et al. review set been observed across genes, species, ecosystems reveal a world undergoing substantial change. Understanding causes, consequences, potential mitigation these changes will be essential as we move forward into warming world. Science , this issue p. 10.1126/science.aaf7671

Language: Английский

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Improving the forecast for biodiversity under climate change

Science, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 353(6304)

Published: Sept. 8, 2016

BACKGROUND As global climate change accelerates, one of the most urgent tasks for coming decades is to develop accurate predictions about biological responses guide effective protection biodiversity. Predictive models in biology provide a means scientists project changes species and ecosystems response disturbances such as change. Most current predictive models, however, exclude important mechanisms demography, dispersal, evolution, interactions. These have been shown be mediating past present Thus, modeling efforts do not sufficiently predictions. Despite many complexities involved, biologists are rapidly developing tools that include key processes needed improve accuracy. The biggest obstacle applying these more realistic data inform them almost always missing. We suggest ways fill this growing gap between model sophistication information predict prevent damaging aspects life on Earth. ADVANCES On basis empirical theoretical evidence, we identify six commonly shape yet too often missing from models: physiology; history, phenology; interactions; evolutionary potential population differentiation; colonization, range dynamics; environmental variation. prioritize types each proxies or difficult collect. show even well-studied species, lack critical would necessary apply realistic, mechanistic models. Consequently, limitations likely override gains accuracy Given enormous challenge collecting detailed millions around world, highlight practical methods promote greatest Trait-based approaches leverage sparse make general inferences unstudied species. Targeting with high sensitivity disproportionate ecological impact can yield insights future ecosystem Adaptive schemes target while simultaneously improving OUTLOOK Strategic collections essential will allow us build generalizable our broader ability anticipate species’ other human-caused disturbances. By increasing making uncertainties explicit, deliver improved projections biodiversity under together characterizations uncertainty support informed decisions by policymakers land managers. Toward end, globally coordinated effort gaps advance climate-fueled crisis offers substantial advantages efficiency, coverage, Biologists take advantage lessons learned Intergovernmental Panel Climate Change’s development, coordination, integration projections. weather were greatly incorporating testing against station data. Biology same. need adopt meteorological approach predicting enhance mitigate services it provides humans. Emerging beginning incorporate Models used (clockwise top) evolution disease-harboring mosquitoes, environments use, physiological invasive cane toads, demographic penguins climates, climate-dependent dispersal behavior butterflies, mismatched interactions butterflies their host plants. advances, seldom necessitating new collect relevant parameterize biologically

Language: Английский

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Behavioral responses to changing environments

Behavioral Ecology, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 26(3), P. 665 - 673

Published: Oct. 15, 2014

Humans have brought about unprecedented changes to environments worldwide.For many species, behavioral adjustments represent the first response altered conditions.In this review, we consider pivotal role that behavior plays in determining fate of species under human-induced environmental change and highlight key research priorities.In particular, discuss importance plasticity whether adaptive plastic responses are sufficient keeping pace with changing conditions.We then examine interplay between individual population processes ways which can affect ecosystem function stability.Lastly, turn evolutionary consequences anthropogenic impact behaviors on process facilitate or hinder adaptation change.

Language: Английский

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Climate change effects on biodiversity, ecosystems, ecosystem services, and natural resource management in the United States

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 733, P. 137782 - 137782

Published: March 11, 2020

Climate change is a pervasive and growing global threat to biodiversity ecosystems. Here, we present the most up-to-date assessment of climate impacts on biodiversity, ecosystems, ecosystem services in U.S. implications for natural resource management. We draw from 4th National Assessment summarize observed projected changes ecosystems explore linkages important services, discuss associated challenges opportunities find that species are responding through morphology behavior, phenology, geographic range shifts, these mediated by plastic evolutionary responses. Responses populations, combined with direct effects (including more extreme events), resulting widespread productivity, interactions, vulnerability biological invasions, other emergent properties. Collectively, alter benefits can provide society. Although not all negative, even positive require costly societal adjustments. Natural managers need proactive, flexible adaptation strategies consider historical future outlooks minimize costs over long term. Many organizations beginning approaches, but implementation yet prevalent or systematic across nation.

Language: Английский

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Evolutionary rescue in a changing world

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 29(9), P. 521 - 530

Published: July 15, 2014

Evolutionary rescue occurs when adaptive evolutionary change restores positive growth to declining populations and prevents extinction. Here we outline the diagnostic features of distinguish this phenomenon from demographic genetic rescue. We then synthesize rapidly accumulating theoretical experimental studies rescue, highlighting demographic, genetic, extrinsic factors that affect probability By doing so, clarify target through management conservation. Additionally, identify several putative cases in nature, but conclude compelling evidence remains elusive. with a horizon scan where field might develop, areas potential application, suggest evaluation will help evaluate predictions.

Language: Английский

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Evolutionary and plastic responses to climate change in terrestrial plant populations

Evolutionary Applications, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 7(1), P. 123 - 139

Published: Oct. 14, 2013

Abstract As climate change progresses, we are observing widespread changes in phenotypes many plant populations. Whether these phenotypic directly caused by change, and whether they result from plasticity or evolution, active areas of investigation. Here, review terrestrial studies addressing questions. Plastic evolutionary responses to clearly occurring. Of the 38 that met our criteria for inclusion, all found plastic responses, with 26 showing both. These however, may be insufficient keep pace as indicated eight 12 examined this directly. There is also mixed evidence adaptive, contemporary climatic changes. We discuss factors will likely influence extent including patterns environmental changes, species’ life history characteristics generation time breeding system, degree direction gene flow. Future standardized methodologies, especially those use direct approaches assessing over time, sharing data through public databases, facilitate better predictions capacity populations respond rapid change.

Language: Английский

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Beyond buying time: the role of plasticity in phenotypic adaptation to rapid environmental change

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 374(1768), P. 20180174 - 20180174

Published: Jan. 28, 2019

How populations and species respond to modified environmental conditions is critical their persistence both now into the future, particularly given increasing pace of change. The process adaptation novel can occur via two mechanisms: (1) expression phenotypic plasticity (the ability one genotype express varying phenotypes when exposed different conditions), (2) evolution selection for particular phenotypes, resulting in modification genetic variation population. Plasticity, because it acts at level individual, often hailed as a rapid-response mechanism that will enable organisms adapt survive our rapidly changing world. But also retard by shifting distribution population, shielding from natural selection. In addition which, not all plastic responses are adaptive-now well-documented cases ecological traps. this theme issue, we aim present considered view role could play facilitating or hindering adaption This introduction provides re-examination current understanding sets issue's contributions broader context. Four key themes emerge: need measure across space time; importance past predicting future; link between sexual selection; understand more about nature on itself. We conclude advocating cross-disciplinary collaborations settle question whether promote species' rates ever-more stressful conditions. article part issue 'The rapid change'.

Language: Английский

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Plants and climate change: complexities and surprises

Annals of Botany, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 116(6), P. 849 - 864

Published: Nov. 1, 2015

Background Anthropogenic climate change (ACC) will influence all aspects of plant biology over coming decades. Many changes in wild species have already been well-documented as a result increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations, warming and changing precipitation regimes. A wealth available data has allowed the use meta-analyses to examine plant–climate interactions on more sophisticated levels than before. These analyses revealed major differences response among groups, e.g. with respect functional traits, taxonomy, life-history provenance. Interestingly, these also exposed unexpected mismatches between theory, experimental, observational studies. Scope We reviewed literature species' responses ACC, finding ∼42 % 4000 studied globally are plants (primarily terrestrial). review impacts phenology, distributions, ecophysiology, regeneration biology, plant–plant plant–herbivore interactions, roles plasticity evolution. focused apparent deviations from expectation, highlighted cases where that were, fact, ACC. Conclusions found conventionally expected generally well-understood, it is aberrant now yielding greater insight into current possible future argue inconclusive, unexpected, or counter-intuitive results should be embraced order understand disconnects prediction, observation. highlight prime examples collection papers this Special Issue, well general literature. groupings/traits had mixed success, but some underutilized approaches, such Grime's C/S/R strategies, when incorporated, improved understanding observed responses. Despite inherent difficulties, we need for ecologists conduct community-level experiments systems replicate multiple Specifically, call development coordinating across networks field sites, both natural man-made.

Language: Английский

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Plastic and evolutionary responses to climate change in fish

Evolutionary Applications, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 7(1), P. 68 - 87

Published: Jan. 1, 2014

Abstract The physical and ecological ‘fingerprints’ of anthropogenic climate change over the past century are now well documented in many environments taxa. We reviewed evidence for phenotypic responses to recent fish. Changes timing migration reproduction, age at maturity, juvenile migration, growth, survival fecundity were associated primarily with changes temperature. Although these traits can evolve rapidly, only two studies attributed formally evolutionary mechanisms. correlation‐based methods most frequently employed point largely ‘fine‐grained’ population environmental variability (i.e. rapid relative generation time), consistent plastic Ultimately, species will likely adapt long‐term warming trends overlaid on natural oscillations. Considering strong plasticity all studied, we recommend development expanded use capable detecting change, such as long term study selection coefficients temporal shifts reaction norms, increased attention forecasting adaptive response synergistic interactions multiple pressures be change.

Language: Английский

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