Download or read book Predictability and Constraints on the Structure of Ecological Communities in the Context of Climate Change written by Allison K. Barner and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ecologists must increasingly balance the need for accurate predictions about how ecosystems will be affected by climate change, against the fact that making such predictions at the ecosystem-level may be infeasible. Although information about responses of individual species to a changing environment is increasing, scaling such information to the community level is challenging. To date, predicting responses of ecological communities to climate change is constrained by limited theoretical and empirical knowledge about the response of communities and ecosystems to change. My dissertation addresses several knowledge gaps in our understanding of community structure under climate change. This research draws from a rich experimental tradition in the species-diverse model ecosystem of the US Pacific Northwest rocky intertidal to test ecological theory. In Chapter 2, I assessed whether the response of multiple species of coralline algae to global change could be predicted from basic first principles of chemistry, physiology, and ecology. Given the rate of global change, and the time-consuming process of experimentally determining species responses to climate change, I hypothesized that species can be grouped using existing theory, either by their evolutionary relatedness or by their ecological traits, such that climate responses are similar within a group. Such a scheme would greatly reduce the number of experiments needed to characterize species climate vulnerability, requiring the characterization of the response of groups of species to climate change, rather than individual species. Using a suite of five co-occurring species of intertidal articulated coralline algae (Corallina vancouveriensis, Corallina officinalis, Bossiella plumosa, Bossiella orbiginiana, and Calliarthron tuberculosum), I applied this framework to generate ten mutually exclusive hypotheses that could explain organismal response to ocean acidification, a consequence of global climate change that threatens marine calcifying species. I found that all species had similar responses to ocean acidification, and that responses were generally predicted by the body size of the individual. Despite the power that such a framework provides in understanding group-level response to climate change, predicting community-level response requires knowledge of how organisms affect one another. In Chapter 3, I quantified species interactions in a series of removal experiments to estimate the reciprocal effects between a canopy-forming intertidal kelp (Saccharina sessilis) and a suite of understory species that persist beneath the kelp canopy. This experiment was replicated in different oceanographic conditions across a large latitudinal gradient, as a step towards understanding how interactions might change with climate change. However, the experiment demonstrated that interactions between the canopy and understory were consistent among different environmental conditions. Furthermore, the strongest effect was that of understory species, particularly articulated coralline turf algae, on the canopy species. The coralline turf algae both facilitated the recruitment of the canopy species and buffered the canopy from abiotic stress during its adult life stage. Combining experimental results and observational surveys, a hypothesized interaction network for these species was constructed, highlighting the importance of direct and indirect species interactions in promoting species coexistence. A long-standing controversy in ecology is whether or not species interactions can be inferred from observational data, as opposed to from experimental tests. Although the rocky intertidal ecosystem is unique for its ease of experimental manipulation, quantifying species interactions experimentally is often difficult or impossible. As an alternative, many have turned to statistical methods to estimate species interactions from observational data, namely, from patterns in species pairwise co-occurrences. In Chapter 4, I examined these co-occurrence methods and their potential relationship to experimentally measured species interactions. I first used a suite of different co-occurrence methods to generate a set of predicted species interactions of macrophytes and invertebrates from observational surveys conducted in the rocky intertidal zone of Oregon. I then compared the predicted species interactions to the same pairwise species interactions determined experimentally and assembled from the literature. Overall, of the seven methods tested, each generated a different set of predicted species interactions from the same data, and all methods predicted interactions that did not match those in the experimental database. Thus, predicting species interactions from patterns in occurrence remains elusive. Importantly, much work remains to be done to understand the link between species co-occurrences and their actual interactions with one another on the landscape. A key limiting frontier in climate change ecology is determining the influence of species interactions on species distributions across the landscape, and the sensitivity of such interactions to changes in climate. Finally, in Chapter 5, I used theory from the published literature and knowledge from my previous chapters to make predictions the recovery of low rocky intertidal communities after a disturbance. The process of community development after disturbance has been studied in many ways, from the successional studies of the early 1900s, to modern community assembly theory. In recent years, a focus on the unpredictability of community assembly has emerged, paying particular attention to the role of historical contingency, or priority effects, in determining the recovery trajectory of a community. Priority effects occur when the arrival of a species after a disturbance inalterably changes the composition of the developing community, driving the assembly of widely different communities at a small spatial scale. I conducted a community assembly experiment in three different low intertidal zone community "types", each characterized by different dominant macrophyte species (Saccharina sessilis, Phyllospadix spp., and algal "turfs"). Replicating this experiment at six sites along the Oregon coast, I found that both regional and local dynamics constrain the recovery of communities after disturbance. Half of the time, the community returned to the state of the nearby community type. The remaining communities were influenced by priority effects that could be predicted based on 1) regional dynamics favoring some species over others, or 2) the timing of arrival of important facilitating species. Overall, understanding the dynamic relationship between the persistence of diverse communities and a changing environment remains one of the challenges of our time. My dissertation highlights some of the challenges in predicting the future composition of communities under climate change, but also provides some ways forward. Integration of experimental, theoretical, and observational studies builds the scaffolding of prediction, whereby understanding the constraints on species physiology, the interactions among species, and community assembly can help frame the context in which predictions are made.
Download or read book Invasive Species in Forests and Rangelands of the United States written by Therese M. Poland and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-02-01 with total page 455 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This open access book describes the serious threat of invasive species to native ecosystems. Invasive species have caused and will continue to cause enormous ecological and economic damage with ever increasing world trade. This multi-disciplinary book, written by over 100 national experts, presents the latest research on a wide range of natural science and social science fields that explore the ecology, impacts, and practical tools for management of invasive species. It covers species of all taxonomic groups from insects and pathogens, to plants, vertebrates, and aquatic organisms that impact a diversity of habitats in forests, rangelands and grasslands of the United States. It is well-illustrated, provides summaries of the most important invasive species and issues impacting all regions of the country, and includes a comprehensive primary reference list for each topic. This scientific synthesis provides the cultural, economic, scientific and social context for addressing environmental challenges posed by invasive species and will be a valuable resource for scholars, policy makers, natural resource managers and practitioners.
Download or read book The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate written by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2022-04-30 with total page 755 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for assessing the science related to climate change. It provides policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of human-induced climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. This IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate is the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the observed and projected changes to the ocean and cryosphere and their associated impacts and risks, with a focus on resilience, risk management response options, and adaptation measures, considering both their potential and limitations. It brings together knowledge on physical and biogeochemical changes, the interplay with ecosystem changes, and the implications for human communities. It serves policymakers, decision makers, stakeholders, and all interested parties with unbiased, up-to-date, policy-relevant information. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Download or read book Managing Boreal Forests in the Context of Climate Change written by Seppo Kellomaki and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2017-02-03 with total page 366 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In many places in the world, forests dominate landscapes and provide various products. Future climate change could profoundly alter the productivity of forest ecosystems and species composition. Until now, climate impact research has primarily focused on the likely impacts of rise in temperature, increased atmospheric CO2 concentration, and varying precipitation on unmanaged forests. The issue that now needs to be addressed is how to sustainably manage climate change for timber production and biomass. Though climate change is a global issue, impacts on forests depend on local environmental conditions and management methods, so this book will look at the issue under varying local contexts.
Download or read book Advancing the Science of Climate Change written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2011-01-10 with total page 526 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for-and in many cases is already affecting-a broad range of human and natural systems. The compelling case for these conclusions is provided in Advancing the Science of Climate Change, part of a congressionally requested suite of studies known as America's Climate Choices. While noting that there is always more to learn and that the scientific process is never closed, the book shows that hypotheses about climate change are supported by multiple lines of evidence and have stood firm in the face of serious debate and careful evaluation of alternative explanations. As decision makers respond to these risks, the nation's scientific enterprise can contribute through research that improves understanding of the causes and consequences of climate change and also is useful to decision makers at the local, regional, national, and international levels. The book identifies decisions being made in 12 sectors, ranging from agriculture to transportation, to identify decisions being made in response to climate change. Advancing the Science of Climate Change calls for a single federal entity or program to coordinate a national, multidisciplinary research effort aimed at improving both understanding and responses to climate change. Seven cross-cutting research themes are identified to support this scientific enterprise. In addition, leaders of federal climate research should redouble efforts to deploy a comprehensive climate observing system, improve climate models and other analytical tools, invest in human capital, and improve linkages between research and decisions by forming partnerships with action-oriented programs.
Download or read book Eco evolutionary Dynamics written by Andrew P. Hendry and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2020-06-09 with total page 410 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In recent years, scientists have realized that evolution can occur on timescales much shorter than the 'long lapse of ages' emphasized by Darwin - in fact, evolutionary change is occurring all around us all the time. This work provides an authoritative and accessible introduction to eco-evolutionary dynamics, a cutting-edge new field that seeks to unify evolution and ecology into a common conceptual framework focusing on rapid and dynamic environmental and evolutionary change.
Download or read book Seeking Sustainability in an Age of Complexity written by Graham Harris and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2007-06-14 with total page 380 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seeking Sustainability in an Age of Complexity explains the difficulties of sustainability and why 'collapse' can occur. In the last twenty years the theory of complexity has been developed - complex systems science (CSS) speaks to natural systems and particularly to ecological, social and economic systems and their interaction. Due to the growing concern over the huge changes occurring in the global environment, such as climate change, deforestation, habitat fragmentation and loss of biodiversity, Graham Harris sets out what has been learned in an attempt to understand the implications of these changes and suggests ways to move forward. This book discusses a number of emerging tools for the management of 'unruly' complexity which facilitate stronger regional dialogues about knowledge and values, which will be of interest to ecologists, sociologists, economists, natural resource managers and scientists in State and local governments and those involved in water and landscape management.
Download or read book Eco Evolutionary Dynamics written by and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2014-08-12 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The theme of this volume is to discuss Eco-evolutionary Dynamics. - Updates and informs the reader on the latest research findings - Written by leading experts in the field - Highlights areas for future investigation
Download or read book Climate Vulnerability Volume 4 written by and published by Newnes. This book was released on 2013-06-14 with total page 982 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Climate Vulnerability, Volume 4
Download or read book Ecological Networks written by and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2010-11-17 with total page 455 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This thematic volume represents an important and exciting benchmark in the study of food webs and other ecological networks, synthesizing and showcasing current research and highlighting future directions for the development of the field. - Updates and informs the reader on the latest research findings - Written by leading experts in the field - Highlights areas for future investigation
Download or read book The Palgrave Handbook of Socio ecological Resilience in the Face of Climate Change written by Sunil Nautiyal and published by Palgrave Macmillan. This book was released on 2023-09-02 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book shares experiences and knowledge on climate change impacts and adaptation, risk reduction strategies, communities’ responses, and best practices from different landscapes of India. It provides insights into climate change risk reduction in trans-disciplinary frameworks. The findings and discussions put forward in the chapters, largely based on micro-level case studies, provide an in-depth understanding of interactions among ecology, society, and economy under different conditions of changing climate. It contains critical discussion on both existing and required actions as adjustments to climate change impacts by different actors at diverse scales and contexts. The recommendations will be beneficial in climate change adaptation planning for India and other developing countries, where a large portion of the population directly depends on climate-sensitive sectors. The content of the book is interdisciplinary and it will be beneficial for scholars and practitioners from natural science, social science, policy, and governance across the continents.
Download or read book Abrupt Climate Change written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2002-04-23 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The climate record for the past 100,000 years clearly indicates that the climate system has undergone periodic-and often extreme-shifts, sometimes in as little as a decade or less. The causes of abrupt climate changes have not been clearly established, but the triggering of events is likely to be the result of multiple natural processes. Abrupt climate changes of the magnitude seen in the past would have far-reaching implications for human society and ecosystems, including major impacts on energy consumption and water supply demands. Could such a change happen again? Are human activities exacerbating the likelihood of abrupt climate change? What are the potential societal consequences of such a change? Abrupt Climate Change: Inevitable Surprises looks at the current scientific evidence and theoretical understanding to describe what is currently known about abrupt climate change, including patterns and magnitudes, mechanisms, and probability of occurrence. It identifies critical knowledge gaps concerning the potential for future abrupt changes, including those aspects of change most important to society and economies, and outlines a research strategy to close those gaps. Based on the best and most current research available, this book surveys the history of climate change and makes a series of specific recommendations for the future.
Download or read book Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States written by US Global Change Research Program and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2018-02-06 with total page 999 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As global climate change proliferates, so too do the health risks associated with the changing world around us. Called for in the President’s Climate Action Plan and put together by experts from eight different Federal agencies, The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health: A Scientific Assessment is a comprehensive report on these evolving health risks, including: Temperature-related death and illness Air quality deterioration Impacts of extreme events on human health Vector-borne diseases Climate impacts on water-related Illness Food safety, nutrition, and distribution Mental health and well-being This report summarizes scientific data in a concise and accessible fashion for the general public, providing executive summaries, key takeaways, and full-color diagrams and charts. Learn what health risks face you and your family as a result of global climate change and start preparing now with The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health.
Download or read book The Regional Impacts of Climate Change written by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Working Group II. and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1998 with total page 532 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cambridge, UK : Cambridge University Press, 1998.
Download or read book Review of the Draft Fourth National Climate Assessment written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2018-06-18 with total page 207 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Climate change poses many challenges that affect society and the natural world. With these challenges, however, come opportunities to respond. By taking steps to adapt to and mitigate climate change, the risks to society and the impacts of continued climate change can be lessened. The National Climate Assessment, coordinated by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, is a mandated report intended to inform response decisions. Required to be developed every four years, these reports provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date evaluation of climate change impacts available for the United States, making them a unique and important climate change document. The draft Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4) report reviewed here addresses a wide range of topics of high importance to the United States and society more broadly, extending from human health and community well-being, to the built environment, to businesses and economies, to ecosystems and natural resources. This report evaluates the draft NCA4 to determine if it meets the requirements of the federal mandate, whether it provides accurate information grounded in the scientific literature, and whether it effectively communicates climate science, impacts, and responses for general audiences including the public, decision makers, and other stakeholders.
Download or read book Plants and Climate Change written by Jelte Rozema and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-01-19 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book focuses on how climate affects or affected the biosphere and vice versa both in the present and in the past. The chapters describe how ecosystems from the Antarctic and Arctic, and from other latitudes, respond to global climate change. The papers highlight plant responses to atmospheric CO2 increase, to global warming and to increased ultraviolet-B radiation as a result of stratospheric ozone depletion.
Download or read book Joint Species Distribution Modelling written by Otso Ovaskainen and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2020-06-11 with total page 389 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive account of joint species distribution modelling, covering statistical analyses in light of modern community ecology theory.
