Mapping Industrial Influences on Earth's Ecology

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 48(1), P. 289 - 317

Published: Nov. 13, 2023

As anthropogenic transformation of Earth's ecology accelerates, and its impacts on the sustainability humanity rest nature become more obvious, geographers other researchers are leveraging an abundance spatial data to map how industrialization is transforming biosphere. This review examines methodologies used create such maps they have enhanced our understanding societies can abate biodiversity loss, mitigate climate change, achieve global goals. Although there been great advances over past two decades in mapping industrial transformations across planet, field still infancy. We outline future research directions better understand biosphere utility integrating socioeconomic, ecological, biodiversity, explore inform potential pathways human-driven social-ecological change.

Language: Английский

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Foraging synchrony drives resilience in human–dolphin mutualism

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(6)

Published: Jan. 30, 2023

Interactions between humans and nature have profound consequences, which rarely are mutually beneficial. Further, behavioral environmental changes can turn human–wildlife cooperative interactions into conflicts, threatening their continued existence. By tracking fine-scale artisanal fishers wild dolphins targeting migratory mullets, we reveal that foraging synchrony is key to benefiting both predators. Dolphins herd mullet schools toward the coast, increasing prey availability within reach of net-casting fishers, who gain higher success—but only when matching casting behavior with dolphins’ cues. In turn, approach fishers’ nets closely cue in, they dive for longer modify active echolocation match time it takes sink close over mullets—but respond cues appropriately. Using long-term demographic surveys, show generates socioeconomic benefits ca. 13% survival by minimizing spatial overlap bycatch-prone fisheries. However, recent declines in these short- reducing success exposure bycatch alternative a numerical model parametrized our empirical data, predict pushing this traditional human–dolphin cooperation extinction. We propose two possible conservation actions could prevent erosion century-old fishery, thereby safeguarding one last remaining cases cooperation.

Language: Английский

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Mapping the Continuum of Humanity's Footprint on Land

One Earth, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 1(2), P. 175 - 180

Published: Oct. 1, 2019

The past three decades have seen a proliferation in the breadth of data documenting natural world around us. In concert with this, new field cumulative human-pressure mapping has emerged to integrate these forms and allow practitioners different disciplines utilize apply concepts from others. These efforts provide view terrestrial biosphere humanity's role shaping its patterns processes. Here, we present an overview this major advances by exploring how maps found diverse uses environmental management informing international policy debate best achieve sustainability, reach biodiversity conservation goals, avert dangerous climate change. is still infancy, conclude our views what could be next set interdisciplinary for human pressure inform global agenda. Humanity been reshaping Earth's ecosystems millennia. We engage large-scale conversion habitats agricultural crops urban areas feed house burgeoning population. more subtle ways, change state systems through activities such as hunting, logging, recreation, fire management. A multitude impacts on now recorded, including significantly altered species composition abundance, loss appropriation primary productivity, changes land-surface hydrology albedo, alterations biogeochemical cycles carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus. Many scientists argue that entered human-dominated geological era termed Anthropocene are increasingly transgressing catastrophic boundaries. While humanity altering at planetary scale, extent intensity vary across space. Yet until very recently—that is, last 20 years—broad spatial descriptions anthropogenic impact were grossly incomplete. Most either completely ignored influence or described it using broad classes land use (i.e., dividing landscapes into other built-up one two crop-land vegetation mosaics). At beginning century, many biogeographers lamented fact available missed lower-intensity pressure, extensive networks roads, power lines, water irrigation (known linear infrastructures), along grazing lands cattle sheep low-density settlements, some which insidious than outright habitat conversion. There was good reason omissions: pressures degrade but do not convert difficult even impossible detect large space-borne satellites. consequences substantial, only recent measure planet simply overlooked important degrading processes, remained ignorant co-occur interact ways profound environment (for example, road created go mine lead entirely frontiers phenomena witnessed all over world). decades, ability map fundamentally evolved thanks powerful computing working make sense deluge expanding network improved satellites combined bottom-up census crowd-sourced forms. can quantify locate sparse low-intensity farming, construction, among previously overlooked. As consequence, live special time where opportunity better understand space and, increasingly, assess means interventions conducting. number factors during 1990s early 2000s laid foundation subsequent mapping. First, there rapid earth observation satellite technology pioneered agencies NASA European Space Agency, meant verifiable cover wider scientific community. What considered high resolution back 1990s—for Landsat 60 m per pixel—has become low today's standards. finest 30 cm provided high-resolution commercial addition, geo-politics changed globally end cold war, calls efficiency government developed sources geographic data, roads railways, released public national agencies. same time, reporting population statistics enabled geographers create digital density first time. Finally, information system (GIS) software store datasets, conjunction methodologies integrating layers, integration necessary combine efficient reproducible manner. global-scale effort seize upon full suite newly vastly improving GIS technologies computational Eric Sanderson colleagues. By generating method (Figure 1), they produced "human footprint," wild places 2002. Their way saw planet. footprint clearly showed footprint, 83% land's surface directly influenced humans. This far exceeded estimates affected categorical land-cover methods. particular, fall short much reflected 2). Erle Ellis his colleagues then went build off Sanderson's work proxies measures ecological conditions define distribution "Anthromes." Ellis's verified findings reveal small fraction (11%) net productivity occurring remaining wildlands, most function taking place being utilized Anthromes.Figure 2How Cumulative Human-Pressure Maps Compare More Generic Landcover Mapping EffortsShow captionIllustration nuanced (B) human-footprint (2009 Human Footprint) relative (C) covers leading (according Agency GlobCover Project 2009) (A) observable mapped pressures.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload (PPT) Illustration pressures. Continued advancement availability fine-scale remote sensing facilitated unprecedented capacity visualize planet, myriad recently published footprint" broadly methods outlined 1 take advantage different, up-to-date datasets available. show regardless used, pattern emerging: Earth few devoid industrial-level activity), find expanses touched industrial central Africa, Amazon, boreal tundra forests north, deserts, woodlands, savannah Australia. Only 5 years comparable images, censuses multiple periods. opportunities generate time-series assessment pressures, providing insights changing ourselves 2016, when assessed total 1993 2009. During 16-year period, increased 9%, 23% economy 153%. 26 countries managed grow size their economies while actually shrinking infrastructure. countries, including, Mexico Sweden, tended governance structures higher rates urbanization, led interpret clear evidence possible decouple economic growth impacts, emerge current trajectory disastrous impacts. However, further analyses temporal dataset revealed 3.3 million km2 (equivalent area half continent Australia twice Alaska) wilderness estate lost showing spread untouched footprint. Hardest hit South America, experienced 30% loss, 14% just under decades. such, need exploration, complex development sustainability trajectories unpicked. continuum focused quantifying systems, grown investigations mean biodiversity. boon loss. For Moreno di Marco trend alongside extinction-risk ∼4,500 mammal species. They within species' range strongest predictors extinction risk, so biology species, trophic level body size. surprising, however, values (at score <3 out 50) statistically significant predictor risk. predict degradation below conservation. serve highlight utility Subsequent also instance, consortium wildlife researchers Marlee Tucker evaluated movement 803 radio-collared individuals 57 mammals. discovered moved one-half one-third reduction huge potential alter predator-prey interactions, nutrient cycling, reproductive success, adapt resource base. Moreover, study concave relationship between increasing decreased movement, indicating again incremental those classified versus slightly degraded). similar analysis, Kühl chimpanzee behavioral diversity almost 90% work, others, highlights threshold activity driving declines continuous refined track changes. Beyond species-based assessments, critical ecosystem service assessments. used assessing quality world's water; conducted 2010 Charles Vörösmarty, who nearly 80% had degrees influence. investments enable nations mitigate offset water-quality levels assessments aimed remedying underlying causes vulnerability poor. Another example infectious diseases. 2014, Mica Hahn colleagues, methodology identify key drivers zoonotic malaria outbreaks Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. components (human growth) explain emerging diseases "hotspots" future likely merge. predictive serves basis risk pre-emptive responses minimize health. broadening base adoption adaptive planning pressure-state-response (PSR) framework. PSR framework theory linkages exerted activities, socioeconomic values, response society attempts restore degraded. interchanges form, least theory, feedback mechanism monitored effectiveness. An evaluations protected areas. objective secure plants animals near-natural without plague drive toward extinction. effective keeping 3), always case. studies highlighting worldwide, (lead Kendall Jones) alarming story: three-quarters 50% intense pressure. 42% safeguarded goals—comprising mere 4,334 individual areas—is free measurable Importantly, did strict (a strong framework) lower permitting activities. quarter owned indigenous peoples, revealing importance sustainable development. Stephen Garnett degree connections little two-thirds scores. research therefore shows restoring rights titles yield benefits ecologically valuable landscapes, ecosystems, genes generations. years, scale approaches, determining changes, facilitate disease spread, compromise crucial services quality. Yet, unanswered questions, particularly regard cumulating affect array underpin systems. widespread services, pollination, precision needed link scales limited. essential shortfall local decision-making processes aim avoid erosion capital progress core agreements, Sustainable Development Goals, implementing United Nations Convention Biological Diversity Framework Climate Change. Arguably persistent gap carbon sequestration storage Natural solutions, slowing forest-based emissions, account emission reductions keep warming safe levels. solutions based reducing emissions associated full-scale stocks, mitigation date largely relied imagery, forest cover. industrial-scale fragmentation edge effects, farms less visible defaunation regimes, stores undermine process sequestration. platform understanding work. long interest integrity prioritizing novel evaluating Ecological defined situation whereby structural condition habitat, function, ecosystem. elusive. proxy supports applications direct structure aircraft-based instrumentation develop broad-scale integrity. spatially Although land-use shifting rapidly historical both type integrative models incorporate dynamic adaptations human-environment relationships help advance effects. projections, must include climate-change scenarios, estimating land-based biological diversity, services. spatializing currently done Given comes emergence projections Earth, priority should scenarios growth. All simplify down real us perspective, pattern, orientation. concern arisen experiment, played identifying top-down imagery provides consistent bottom-up, explicit population, infrastructure, offering clarity regarding This, turn, communities well manage amount starting practitioners, scientists, makers discipline recognize, understand, adopt, others meet societal grand challenges. hope coming decade will human-nature interactions tighter

Language: Английский

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Mapping nut‐cracking in a new population of wild capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) at Ubajara National Park, Brazil

American Journal of Primatology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 86(4)

Published: Jan. 15, 2024

Abstract Populations of bearded capuchin monkeys ( Sapajus libidinosus ) vary in their tool use behaviors, with some this divergence regarded as culturally determined. The stone tools, primarily to crack open encased foods, is widespread among capuchins living dry habitats Caatinga and Cerrado ). Significant diversity targets, processed material, size tools observed across populations. However, so far, only a few sites have been systematically studied, we are still distant from representative picture the range variation capuchins’ culture. In study, did systematic assessment Ubajara National Park (UNP), region Ceará, Brazil, recording measuring available lithic resources part an extensive comparative research, CapCult project. We found indirect direct evidence that at UNP customarily hammerstones anvils process least two species palm nuts, macauba Acrocomia aculeata harder babaçu Attalea speciosa Most were rock surfaces had leftovers one nut species. used both nuts not significantly different weight, although ones for Ac. longer. higher frequency nut‐cracking drier lowland area park, reflecting differences density most common species, , availability raw material. within scope previously reported savannah Our study widens knowledge tool‐use wild monkeys, which could contribute shaping conservation policy, including cultural traits.

Language: Английский

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Community through Culture: From Insects to Whales

BioEssays, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 41(11)

Published: Oct. 21, 2019

Abstract It has become increasingly clear that social learning and culture occur much more broadly, in a wider variety of animal communities, than initially believed. Recent research expanded the list to include insects, fishes, elephants, cetaceans. Such diversity allows scientists expand scope potential questions, which can help form complete understanding any single species provide on its own. is crucial understand how present different as well what influences community structure may have one another, so results across these studies most effectively inform another. This review presents an overview spectrum structures, providing necessary infrastructure allow comparison will move field forward.

Language: Английский

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