Combating ecosystem collapse from the tropics to the Antarctic

Globally, collapse of ecosystems - potentially irreversible change to ecosystem structure, composition and function - imperils biodiversity, human health and well-being. We examine the current state and recent trajectories of 19 ecosystems, spanning 58 of latitude across 7.7Mkm 2 , from Australia�...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Global Change Biology
Main Authors: Bergstrom, DM, Wienecke, BC, van den Hoff, J, Hughes, L, Lindenmayer, DB, Ainsworth, TD, Baker, CM, Bland, L, Bowman, DMJS, Brooks, ST, Canadell, JG, Constable, AJ, Dafforn, KA, Depledge, MH, Dickson, CR, Duke, NC, Helmstedt, KJ, Holz, A, Johnson, CR, McGeoch, MA, Melbourne-Thomas, J, Morgain, R, Nicholson, E, Prober, SM, Raymond, B, Ritchie, EG, Robinson, SA, Ruthrof, KX, Setterfield, SA, Sgro, CM, Stark, JS, Travers, T, Trebilco, R, Ward, DFL, Wardle, GM, Williams, KJ, Zylstra, PJ, Shaw, JD
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2021
Subjects:
Environmental Sciences
Climate change impacts and adaptation
Climate change impacts and adaptation not elsewhere classified
Antarctic
The Antarctic
Antarc*
Antarctica
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15539
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33629799
http://ecite.utas.edu.au/151326
Description
Summary:Globally, collapse of ecosystems - potentially irreversible change to ecosystem structure, composition and function - imperils biodiversity, human health and well-being. We examine the current state and recent trajectories of 19 ecosystems, spanning 58 of latitude across 7.7Mkm 2 , from Australia's coral reefs to terrestrial Antarctica. Pressures from global climate change and regional human impacts, occurring as chronic presses and/or acute pulses, drive ecosystem collapse. Ecosystem responses to 517 pressures were categorised as four collapse profiles - abrupt, smooth, stepped and fluctuating. The manifestation of widespread ecosystem collapse is a stark warning of the necessity to take action. We present a three-step assessment and management framework (3As Pathway Awareness , Anticipation and Action ) to aid strategic and effective mitigation to alleviate further degradation to help secure our future.

Similar Items