Merging paleobiology with conservation biology to guide the future of terrestrial ecosystems

Barnosky, Anthony D. ; Hadly, Elizabeth A. ; Gonzalez, Patrick ; Head, Jason ; Polly, P. David ; Lawing, A. Michelle ; Eronen, Jussi T. ; Ackerly, David D. ; Alex, Ken ; Biber, Eric ; Blois, Jessica ; Brashares, Justin ; Ceballos, Gerardo ; Davis, Edward ; Dietl, Gregory P. ; Dirzo, Rodolfo ; Doremus, Holly ; Fortelius, Mikael ; Greene, Harry W. ; Hellmann, Jessica ; Hickler, Thomas ; Jackson, Stephen T. ; Kemp, Melissa ; Koch, Paul L. ; Kremen, Claire ; Lindsey, Emily L. ; Looy, Cindy ; Marshall, Charles R. ; Mendenhall, Chase ; Mulch, Andreas ; Mychajliw, Alexis M. ; Nowak, Carsten ; Ramakrishnan, Uma ; Schnitzler, Jan ; Das Shrestha, Kashish ; Solari, Katherine ; Stegner, Lynn ; Stegner, M. Allison ; Stenseth, Nils Chr. ; Wake, Marvalee H. ; Zhang, Zhibin (2017) Merging paleobiology with conservation biology to guide the future of terrestrial ecosystems Science, 355 (6325). eaah4787. ISSN 0036-8075

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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1126/science.aah4787

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aah4787

Abstract

Conservation of species and ecosystems is increasingly difficult because anthropogenic impacts are pervasive and accelerating. Under this rapid global change, maximizing conservation success requires a paradigm shift from maintaining ecosystems in idealized past states toward facilitating their adaptive and functional capacities, even as species ebb and flow individually. Developing effective strategies under this new paradigm will require deeper understanding of the long-term dynamics that govern ecosystem persistence and reconciliation of conflicts among approaches to conserving historical versus novel ecosystems. Integrating emerging information from conservation biology, paleobiology, and the Earth sciences is an important step forward on the path to success. Maintaining nature in all its aspects will also entail immediately addressing the overarching threats of growing human population, overconsumption, pollution, and climate change.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to American Association
ID Code:127880
Deposited On:31 Oct 2022 04:54
Last Modified:31 Oct 2022 04:54

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