Interactive effects of changes in UV radiation and climate on terrestrial ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and feedbacks to the climate system

Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 22(5), P. 1049 - 1091

Published: Feb. 1, 2023

Terrestrial organisms and ecosystems are being exposed to new rapidly changing combinations of solar UV radiation other environmental factors because ongoing changes in stratospheric ozone climate. In this Quadrennial Assessment, we examine the interactive effects ozone, climate on terrestrial biogeochemical cycles context Montreal Protocol. We specifically assess organisms, agriculture food supply, biodiversity, ecosystem services feedbacks system. Emphasis is placed role extreme events altering exposure potential biodiversity. also address responses plants increased temporal variability radiation, change (e.g. drought, temperature) crops, driving breakdown organic matter from dead plant material (i.e. litter) biocides (pesticides herbicides). Our assessment indicates that interact various ways affect structure function ecosystems, by protecting layer, Protocol continues play a vital maintaining healthy, diverse land sustain life Earth. Furthermore, its Kigali Amendment mitigating some negative consequences limiting emissions greenhouse gases carbon sequestration vegetation pool.

Language: Английский

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Priority effects transcend scales and disciplines in biology

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(7), P. 677 - 688

Published: March 19, 2024

Language: Английский

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Browning events in Arctic ecosystems: Diverse causes with common consequences

PLOS Climate, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 4(1), P. e0000570 - e0000570

Published: Jan. 27, 2025

Arctic ecosystems are experiencing extreme climatic, biotic and physical disturbance events that can cause substantial loss of plant biomass productivity, sometimes at scales >1000 km 2 . Collectively known as browning events, these key contributors to the spatial temporal complexity greening vegetation dynamics. If we properly understand future terrestrial ecosystems, their feedbacks climate, understanding is essential. Here bring together in compare impacts rates recovery, likely changes frequency distribution. We also seek commonalities across contrasting event types. find while high levels damage (up 100% mortality), have capacity for with largely re-established within five years many events. despite leaf area dominant species, compensatory mechanisms such increased productivity undamaged subordinate species lessen on carbon sequestration. These hold true most climatic but less so fire abrupt permafrost thaw, due greater removal vegetation. Counterintuitively, some provide conditions (greening) longer-term, particularly where exposes ground colonisation. Finally, projected causes currently suggest types will become more frequent, tundra thaw expected be greatest severe occurrence regions. Overall, increasingly important consequences ecosystem structure function, feedback climate.

Language: Английский

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Palaeontological signatures of the Anthropocene are distinct from those of previous epochs

Earth-Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 255, P. 104844 - 104844

Published: June 21, 2024

The "Great Acceleration" of the mid-20th century provides causal mechanism Anthropocene, which has been proposed as a new epoch geological time beginning in 1952 CE. Here we identify key parameters and their diagnostic palaeontological signals including rapid breakdown discrete biogeographical ranges for marine terrestrial species, changes to ecologies resulting from climate change ecological degradation, spread exotic foodstuffs beyond range, accumulation reconfigured forest materials such medium density fibreboard (MDF) all being symptoms Great Acceleration. We show: 1) how Anthropocene successions North America, South Africa, Oceania, Europe, Asia can be correlated using signatures highly invasive species that demonstrate growing interconnectivity human systems; 2) unique depositional settings landfills may concentrate remains organisms far geographical range environmental tolerance; 3) preserve long-lived, record within post-mid-20th deposits. Collectively these provide global signature is distinct past records deep-time biotic change, those Holocene.

Language: Английский

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Polar fieldwork in the 21st century: Early Career Researchers considerations regarding safety and sustainability

PLOS Climate, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 3(7), P. e0000415 - e0000415

Published: July 5, 2024

Conducting fieldwork in polar regions presents a multifaceted challenge not only because of the remoteness environment, but also potential geopolitical disputes, language barriers, divergent national policies, and disparities emergency healthcare access. This review addresses climate crisis reevaluates ethical considerations alignment with broader social responsibilities, particular emphasis on challenges faced by Early Career Researchers (ECRs). Ongoing change its associated impacts effects (e.g., reduced snow ice cover, thawing permafrost, intensified fires, increased wildlife interactions) will undoubtedly compound aforementioned challenges. ECRs, often heightened awareness for contending issues pertaining to environmental conservation sustainability, face greater career stakes than tenured researchers, which can lead innovation addressing safety concerns regarding fieldwork. summarizes current ECRs fieldwork, elaborates how these may during this century, possible solutions. To address challenges, we propose comprehensive set recommendations, including innovative data collection methods using improved technology emphasizing meaningful remote local collaborations minimize travel impact risk disease contagion. We advocate reducing redundancy among research groups promoting sharing. Additionally, suggest enhancing cooperation integrating (traditional) Indigenous knowledge while respecting rights Arctic communities. Such recommendations highlight intricate dynamics logistics changing climate, need adaptability, inclusivity practices. A call action towards revising practices is clear, that be key agents forging establishing responsible, comprehensive, adaptive protocols toward safe successful sciences.

Language: Английский

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A review of the empirical evidence for costs of plasticity in ectothermic animals

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 228(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Phenotypic plasticity can represent a vital adaptive response to environmental stressors, including those associated with climate change. Despite its evolutionary advantages, the expression of varies significantly within and among species, is likely be influenced by local conditions. This variability in has important implications for biology conservation physiology. Theoretical models suggest that might incur intrinsic fitness costs, although empirical evidence inconsistent there ambiguity term ‘cost plasticity’. Here, we systematically review literature investigate prevalence costs phenotypic ectothermic animals. We categorized studies into assessing ‘costs phenotype’ (trade-offs between different plastic trait values) plasticity’ (intrinsic capacity plasticity). Importantly, experimental designs required detect are inherently more complex onerous than phenotype. Accordingly, our findings reveal significant focus on phenotype over plasticity, former frequently detecting costs. Contrary theoretical expectations, analysis suggests neither universal nor widespread. raises questions about dynamics particularly stable environments. Our underscores need precise terminology methodology researching avoid conflating traits plasticity. Understanding these nuances crucial predicting how species adapt rapidly changing

Language: Английский

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Evolutionary history of the Arctic flora

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: July 18, 2023

Abstract The Arctic tundra is a relatively young and new type of biome especially sensitive to the impacts global warming. However, little known about how flora was shaped over time. Here we investigate origin evolutionary dynamics by sampling 32 angiosperm clades that together encompass 3626 species. We show dispersal into in situ diversification within have similar trends through time, initiating at approximately 10–9 Ma, increasing sharply around 2.6 peaking 1.0–0.7 Ma. Additionally, discover existence long-term corridor between western North America. Our results suggest initiation might been jointly driven progressive landscape climate changes sea-level fluctuations since early Late Miocene. These findings important conservation implications given rapidly changing conditions Arctic.

Language: Английский

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Fungal endophytes modulate the negative effects induced by Persistent Organic Pollutants in the antarctic plant Colobanthus quitensis

Physiologia Plantarum, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 177(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract Antarctica has one of the most sensitive ecosystems to negative effects Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) on its biodiversity. This is because lower temperatures and persistence POPs that promote their accumulation or even biomagnification. However, impact vascular plants unknown. Moreover, fungal symbionts could modulate host cope with this stress factor. study investigates molecular ecophysiological responses Sub‐Antarctic Antarctic plant Colobanthus quitensis in different populations along a latitudinal gradient (53°‐ 67° S), emphasizing role endophytic fungi. The results show exposure C. generates oxidative alters performance. Nevertheless, association endophytes exposure, shows lipid peroxidation, higher proline content photosynthetic capacity, as well biomass survival percentage, compared absence endophytes. On other hand, antarctic population (67°S) fungi presents better modulating upon exposure. Endophytic would be more necessary for performance towards latitudes extreme conditions, contributing significantly general functional adaptation. We develop transcriptomics analyses n quitensis‐ from Peninsula population. observed tolerance through upregulated genes redox regulation based ascorbate scavenging mechanisms (peroxidases, MDAR, VTC4, CCS), transformation (monooxygenases) conjugation compounds metabolites (glutathione transferases, glycosyltransferases, S‐transferases), storage elimination conjugates (ABC transporters, C G family) contribute detoxification cell. work highlights contribution resistance situations environmental stress, especially conditions such antarctica exposed anthropogenic impact. implications these findings are relevant biosecurity last pristine bastions worldwide.

Language: Английский

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Surface darkening by abundant and diverse algae on an Antarctic ice cap

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: March 18, 2025

Abstract Algal blooms play important roles in physical and biological processes on glacial surfaces. Despite this, their occurrence impacts within an Antarctic context remain understudied. Here, we present evidence of the large-scale presence, diversity bioalbedo effects algal ice cap systems based fieldwork conducted Robert Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica). are observed covering up to 2.7 km 2 (~20%) measured area cap, with cell densities 1.4 × 10 6 cells ml −1 . Spectral characterisation reveal that these increase melting surface, contributing 2.4% total melt under conditions. Blooms composed typical cryoflora taxa, dominated by co-occurring Chlorophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae, Ancylonema However, morphological variation genetic highlight influence regional endemism point a large under-characterised cryoflora.

Language: Английский

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How does geographic location affect birch and grass pollen seasons? A comparative study of Iceland (Akureyri) and Poland (Kraków)

Aerobiologia, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 8, 2025

Language: Английский

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