Biodiversity, Ecosystem Functioning, and Human Wellbeing

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2009, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 30, 2009

Abstract How will biodiversity loss affect ecosystem functioning, services, and human wellbeing? In an age of accelerating loss, this volume summarizes recent advances in biodiversity‐ecosystem functioning research explores the economics services. The first section development basic science provides a meta-analysis that quantitatively tests several hypotheses. second describes natural foundations research, including: quantifying functional diversity, field into predictive science, effects stability complexity, methods to quantify mechanisms by which diversity affects importance trophic structure, microbial ecology, spatial dynamics. third takes on further than it has ever gone dimension. six chapters cover most pressing environmental challenges humanity faces, including on: climate change mitigation, restoration degraded habitats, managed ecosystems, pollination, disease, biological invasions. remaining three consider economic perspective, synthesis services biodiversity, options open policy-makers address failure markets account for services; examination valuing and, hence, understanding consequences decisions neglect these ways economists are currently incorporating decision models conservation management biodiversity. final new ecoinformatics help transform globally finally, advancements future directions field. book's ultimate conclusion is essential element any strategy sustainable development.

Language: Английский

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Management of novel ecosystems: are novel approaches required?

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Journal Year: 2008, Volume and Issue: 6(10), P. 547 - 553

Published: Jan. 28, 2008

Most ecosystems are now sufficiently altered in structure and function to qualify as novel systems, this recognition should be the starting point for ecosystem management efforts. Under emerging biogeochemical configurations, activities experiments, blurring line between basic applied research. Responses specific manipulations context specific, influenced by current status or of system, necessitates reference areas restoration activities. Attempts return systems within their historical range biotic abiotic characteristics processes may not possible, directed at removing undesirable features perpetuate create such ecosystems. Management actions attempt maintain genetic species diversity encourage that favor desirable species. Few resources currently exist support addition proactive measures rigorous experimental designs The necessary changes will occur without strong input from stakeholders policy makers, so rapid information transfer research–management scientific community needed.

Language: Английский

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Impacts of alien plant invasions on species richness in Mediterranean-type ecosystems: a meta-analysis

Progress in Physical Geography Earth and Environment, Journal Year: 2009, Volume and Issue: 33(3), P. 319 - 338

Published: June 1, 2009

Besides a general consensus regarding the negative impact of invasive alien species in literature, only recently has decline native attributable to biological invasions begun be quantified many parts world. The cause-effect relationship between establishment and proliferation extinction is, however, seldom demonstrated. We conducted meta-analysis studies Mediterranean-type ecosystems (MTEs) examine: (1) whether invasion plant indeed causes reduction number at different spatial temporal scales; (2) which growth forms, habitat types areas are most affected by invasions; (3) taxa responsible for richness declines. Our results confirm significant invasions. Studies small scales or sampled over long periods reveal stronger impacts than those large short periods. Alien from regions with similar climates have much impacts, South Africa Australia declining significantly more post-invasion European sites. Australian Acacia accounted declines richness. Among forms plants, annual herbs, trees creepers had greatest impact, whereas graminoids generally caused insignificant changes community. Native shrublands, old fields dune vegetation showed declines, contrast forest habitats.

Language: Английский

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Plant invasions and the niche

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2009, Volume and Issue: 97(4), P. 609 - 615

Published: May 5, 2009

1 For plant invaders, being different is often equated with successful, yet the mechanistic connection remains unclear. 2 Classic niche theory predicts that invaders niches distinct from native flora should coexist little interaction species, such have substantial impacts. Meanwhile, overlap in space species either be repelled or dominate, these naturalize effect. Such discrepancies between and observation raise questions about how differences influence invader establishment impact. 3 Here, we review issues light of recent work on coexistence theory, which shows fitness natives interact to determine invasion outcomes. We show successful depends a advantage difference resident but only former allows become dominant. 4 By identifying role leading hypotheses, unify their predictions for success while highlighting new approaches evaluating importance invasion. 5 Synthesis. Situating process within framework broadens our understanding mechanisms more tightly links problems ecology general community dynamics.

Language: Английский

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Multiple stressors on biotic interactions: how climate change and alien species interact to affect pollination

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2010, Volume and Issue: 85(4), P. 777 - 795

Published: Feb. 23, 2010

Global change may substantially affect biodiversity and ecosystem functioning but little is known about its effects on essential biotic interactions. Since different environmental drivers rarely act in isolation it important to consider interactive effects. Here, we focus how two key of anthropogenic change, climate the introduction alien species, plant-pollinator Based a literature survey identify climatically sensitive aspects species interactions, assess potential these mechanisms, derive hypotheses that form basis future research. We find both will ultimately lead creation novel communities. In communities certain interactions no longer occur while there also be for emergence new relationships. Alien can partly compensate often negative amplify them some cases. positive are restricted generalist among combination result significant threats more specialist involving native species.

Language: Английский

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Importance of low‐flow and high‐flow characteristics to restoration of riparian vegetation along rivers in arid south‐western United States

Freshwater Biology, Journal Year: 2007, Volume and Issue: 52(4), P. 651 - 679

Published: March 2, 2007

Summary 1. Riparian vegetation in dry regions is influenced by low‐flow and high‐flow components of the surface groundwater flow regimes. The duration no‐flow periods stream controls structure along channel, while depth, magnitude rate decline influence phreatophytic floodplain. Flood flows channels floodplains increasing water availability creating ecosystem disturbance. 2. On reference rivers Arizona's Sonoran Desert region, combination perennial flows, shallow riparian (stream) aquifer, frequent flooding results high plant species diversity landscape heterogeneity an abundance pioneer wetland Vegetation changes on hydrologically altered river reaches are varied, given great extent regime ranging from aquifer dewatering affected diversion pumping to timing, frequency, flood downstream flow‐regulating dams. 3. As become more intermittent, cover herbaceous channel decline. deepens, (particularly species) patches reduced composition floodplain shifts trees ( Populus , Salix) drought‐tolerant shrub including Tamarix (introduced) Bebbia. 4. impounded rivers, timing can simplify patch shift mixed forests composed Salix which have narrow regeneration windows, reproductively opportunistic . If not diverted, suppression result increased density vegetation, leading some cases very patches. Coarsening sediments below dams, associated with sediment retention reservoirs, contributes richness reducing nutrient‐holding capacity soils. 5. These implications for restoration. They suggest that diversity, flood‐dependent tree such as be restoring fluvial dynamics flood‐suppressed subject or withdrawal. restoration also may hinge transport. 6. Determining causes change critical determining strategies. Of many efforts underway south‐western United States, focus re‐establishing hydrogeomorphic processes appropriate water, sediment, others manipulating planting (e.g. ) removing ). latter approaches, themselves, yield desired outcomes if indicators, rather than prime causes, underlying physical environment.

Language: Английский

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The Gray Zone: Relationships between habitat loss and marine diversity and their applications in conservation

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Journal Year: 2008, Volume and Issue: 366(1-2), P. 8 - 15

Published: Sept. 25, 2008

Language: Английский

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Ecological Impacts of Alien Species: Quantification, Scope, Caveats, and Recommendations

BioScience, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 65(1), P. 55 - 63

Published: Dec. 12, 2014

Despite intensive research during the past decade on effects of alien species, invasion science still lacks capacity to accurately predict impacts those species and, therefore, provide timely advice managers where limited resources should be allocated. This has been partly by context-dependent nature ecological impacts, highly skewed toward certain taxa and habitat types, lack standardized methods for detecting quantifying impacts. We review different strategies, including specific experimental observational approaches, species. These include a four-way plot design comparing impact studies organisms. Furthermore, we identify hypothesis-driven parameters that measured at invaded sites maximize insights into impact. also present strategies recognizing high-impact Our recommendations foundation developing systematic quantitative measurements allow comparisons across sites, time.

Language: Английский

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Altered stream‐flow regimes and invasive plant species: the Tamarix case

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2007, Volume and Issue: 16(3), P. 381 - 393

Published: Jan. 18, 2007

ABSTRACT Aim To test the hypothesis that anthropogenic alteration of stream‐flow regimes is a key driver compositional shifts from native to introduced riparian plant species. Location The arid south‐western United States; 24 river reaches in Gila and Lower Colorado drainage basins Arizona. Methods We compared abundance three dominant woody taxa (native Populus fremontii Salix gooddingii , Tamarix ) between varied permanence (perennial vs. intermittent), presence or absence an upstream flow‐regulating dam, municipal effluent as stream water source. Results were pioneer trees along with perennial flow natural flood regime. In contrast, had high (patch area basal area) intermittent flows (caused by cultural factors), well those dam‐regulated flows. Main conclusions Stream‐flow are strong determinants vegetation structure, hydrological alterations can drive dominance species have adaptive suite traits. Deep alluvial groundwater on rivers favours deep‐rooted, stress‐adapted over shallower‐rooted more competitive . On flow‐regulated rivers, timing favour reproductively opportunistic both which narrow germination windows prevailing conditions thus new corridors American Southwest. These results reaffirm importance reinstating (inclusive flows) for re‐establishing forest type.

Language: Английский

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A synthesis of plant invasion effects on biodiversity across spatial scales

American Journal of Botany, Journal Year: 2011, Volume and Issue: 98(3), P. 539 - 548

Published: March 1, 2011

• Premise of the study: Invasive plant species are typically thought to pose a large threat native biodiversity, and local‐scale studies confirm this view. However, invaders rarely cause regional extirpations or global extinctions, causing some suggest that invasive species’ influence on biodiversity may not be so dire. We aim synthesize seemingly conflicting literature in invasion biology by evaluating effects across spatial scales. Methods: first conducted meta‐analysis plants richness invaded communities range extents. then discuss consider role scales for which such meta‐analyses possible. Finally, we develop conceptual framework explicitly recognizing how alter species‐occupancy distributions. Key results: found negative relationship between extent study effect size richness. Our simulation models result can occur if invaders, either proportionately disproportionately, reduce occupancy common greater degree than rare species. Conclusions: Future should abundance occupancy‐level changes inform will relationships This approach allow predictive ability forecasting face anthropogenic biological invasions management restoration.

Language: Английский

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