Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in terrestrial habitats of Antarctica
Are we failing to acknowledge the impact of global changes (e.g. UVB, invasive species, climate, land use, atmosphere) on the terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem processes of Antarctica? Antarctica is considered a pristine environment and has low terrestrial species diversity and trophic complexi...
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2005
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102005002944 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102005002944 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0954102005002944 2024-09-15T17:43:32+00:00 Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in terrestrial habitats of Antarctica WALL, DIANA H. 2005 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102005002944 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102005002944 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Antarctic Science volume 17, issue 4, page 523-531 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 journal-article 2005 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102005002944 2024-07-24T04:02:42Z Are we failing to acknowledge the impact of global changes (e.g. UVB, invasive species, climate, land use, atmosphere) on the terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem processes of Antarctica? Antarctica is considered a pristine environment and has low terrestrial species diversity and trophic complexity, and yet while scientifically possible, we still do not know the number of species, where they are, or how their influence on ecosystem processes (e.g. nutrient cycling, carbon flux, decomposition, feedbacks to climate, hydrology) will be affected by multiple global changes. Increased recognition of human dependence on services provided by biodiversity and ecosystem functioning combined with documented impacts of global change already occurring on Antarctic soil ecosystems, increases the urgency to expand investigations regionally in Antarctica. We cannot measure the effects of global change or sustainably manage Antarctica's future if we underestimate the contribution of soil communities. Evidence indicates habitats of rocky moraines, soils and cyroconite holes of glaciers in the continental interior may host not only microbes, but also a complexity of algae and invertebrates. Scientists of many disciplines, together, need to assess the benefits humans derive from Antarctic terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem processes, how these will be affected by global change, and link their findings to the rest of the world. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Antarctica Cambridge University Press Antarctic Science 17 4 523 531 |
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Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press |
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crcambridgeupr |
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English |
description |
Are we failing to acknowledge the impact of global changes (e.g. UVB, invasive species, climate, land use, atmosphere) on the terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem processes of Antarctica? Antarctica is considered a pristine environment and has low terrestrial species diversity and trophic complexity, and yet while scientifically possible, we still do not know the number of species, where they are, or how their influence on ecosystem processes (e.g. nutrient cycling, carbon flux, decomposition, feedbacks to climate, hydrology) will be affected by multiple global changes. Increased recognition of human dependence on services provided by biodiversity and ecosystem functioning combined with documented impacts of global change already occurring on Antarctic soil ecosystems, increases the urgency to expand investigations regionally in Antarctica. We cannot measure the effects of global change or sustainably manage Antarctica's future if we underestimate the contribution of soil communities. Evidence indicates habitats of rocky moraines, soils and cyroconite holes of glaciers in the continental interior may host not only microbes, but also a complexity of algae and invertebrates. Scientists of many disciplines, together, need to assess the benefits humans derive from Antarctic terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem processes, how these will be affected by global change, and link their findings to the rest of the world. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
WALL, DIANA H. |
spellingShingle |
WALL, DIANA H. Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in terrestrial habitats of Antarctica |
author_facet |
WALL, DIANA H. |
author_sort |
WALL, DIANA H. |
title |
Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in terrestrial habitats of Antarctica |
title_short |
Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in terrestrial habitats of Antarctica |
title_full |
Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in terrestrial habitats of Antarctica |
title_fullStr |
Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in terrestrial habitats of Antarctica |
title_full_unstemmed |
Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in terrestrial habitats of Antarctica |
title_sort |
biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in terrestrial habitats of antarctica |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2005 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102005002944 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102005002944 |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Antarctica |
op_source |
Antarctic Science volume 17, issue 4, page 523-531 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102005002944 |
container_title |
Antarctic Science |
container_volume |
17 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
523 |
op_container_end_page |
531 |
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1810490552833015808 |