Anthropocene Baselines: Assessing Change and Managing Biodiversity in Human-Dominated Aquatic Ecosystems

Kopf, R. Keller; Finlayson, C. Max; Humphries, Paul; Sims, Neil; Hladyz, Sally

doi:10.1093/biosci/biv092

Cited by 117 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…The Convention, though, has not provided specific guidance on how to meet these requirements in the context of climate change, such as how to identify appropriate reference conditions Gell et al 2016) and whether past reference conditions were indeed suitable under the changing conditions of the Anthropocene (Kopf et al 2015). This lack of guidance has left important gaps in wetland policy concerning:…”

Section: Ramsar Conventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wetlands In a Changing Climate: Science, Policy and Management

Moomaw

Chmura

Davies³

et al. 2018

Wetlands

262

129

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Part 1 of this review synthesizes recent research on status and climate vulnerability of freshwater and saltwater wetlands, and their contribution to addressing climate change (carbon cycle, adaptation, resilience). Peatlands and vegetated coastal wetlands are among the most carbon rich sinks on the planet sequestering approximately as much carbon as do global forest ecosystems. Estimates of the consequences of rising temperature on current wetland carbon storage and future carbon sequestration potential are summarized. We also demonstrate the need to prevent drying of wetlands and thawing of permafrost by disturbances and rising temperatures to protect wetland carbon stores and climate adaptation/resiliency ecosystem services. Preventing further wetland loss is found to be important in limiting future emissions to meet climate goals, but is seldom considered. In Part 2, the paper explores the policy and management realm from international to national, subnational and local levels to identify strategies and policies reflecting an integrated understanding of both wetland and climate change science. Specific recommendations are made to capture synergies between wetlands and carbon cycle management, adaptation and resiliency to further enable researchers, policy makers and practitioners to protect wetland carbon and climate adaptation/resiliency ecosystem services.

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Section: Ramsar Conventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wetlands In a Changing Climate: Science, Policy and Management

Moomaw

Chmura

Davies³

et al. 2018

Wetlands

262

129

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Such examples raise further questions about the adequacy of baseline conditions for assessing change in the described ecological character given past change. These examples and lessons are highly pertinent to managers, given the expected onset of further change as a consequence of global change and the inadequacy of many past baselines (see discussion in Kopf et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Building from this understanding, the provision of guidance for wetland managers on the appropriate use of palaeoecology in their management planning and preparation of ecological character descriptions would support enhanced implementation of the wise-use provisions of the Ramsar Convention, including mechanisms for determining when adverse change has occurred, or is likely to occur. Given the extent of wetland loss and degradation over recent times (Davidson 2014;Gardner et al 2015) and the likelihood that many baseline or past reference conditions may not be suitable for future management purposes (Kopf et al 2015), it is difficult to see how the Convention can ensure the conservation and wise use of all wetlands unless every possible step is taken to better understand the nature and trajectory of change in wetlands.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding change in the ecological character of Ramsar wetlands: perspectives from a deeper time – synthesis

Gell

Finlayson

Davidson

2016

Mar. Freshwater Res.

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Abstract. The Convention for Wetlands was signed in 1971 as part of a global measure to mitigate the loss and degradation of the world's wetlands. Signatory nations nominate wetlands as internationally important and commit to maintaining their 'ecological character'. In many cases the character that has been maintained was that occurring at the time of nomination with scant attention to the variability and change that occurs over longer periods. Palaeoclimate and palaeoecological research now reveals a diverse array of conditions in wetlands in the past and attests that any recently identified condition may be transient. The research further reveals the considerable magnitude and antiquity of the impact of people on wetlands. Hence the site description used by wetland managers would benefit from the provision of a longerterm perspective of change. The changing state of wetlands provides a dilemma for wetland managers. In response, a workshop on understanding change in wetlands was held in Queenscliff, Australia, in November 2013 to draw together perspectives of change from neo-and palaeoecological sources to enable the formulation of new pathways of assessment to better accommodate the dynamic nature of wetlands. A synthesis of the information provided at the workshop is provided in this paper.

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“…Where ecosystems have been markedly altered, 'Anthropocene baselines', a description used to reflect ecosystems that have been invariably transformed by human activity, may provide a more representative basis for management [9]. Neo-Europe is a concept for widespread European colonization of geographically distinct areas across the world, the behaviours that settlers displayed and the ecological changes they initiated [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The concept, also termed the 'Columbian exchange' [3], well known in social sciences is little known in ecological sciences but can assist analysis of why ecosystems look and function the way they do today. Its wider use in ecology could provide a more rigorous basis for evaluating change associated with European agency [5], reconciliation of the disparity between history and ecology [10], and identification of baselines in human-dominated ecosystems [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Neo-Europe’ and its ecological consequences: the example of systematic degradation in Australia's inland fisheries

Alleway¹,

Gillanders²,

Connell³

2016

Biol. Lett.

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The antiquity of human impact on ecosystems is increasingly understood, though the arrival of settlers to new lands remains a defining period. Colonization of the ‘neo-Europes’, a reference from the discipline of history, precipitated changes in aquatic ecosystems through modification of waterways and introductions of non-native species. We considered historical fisheries and fish market records from South Australia (1900–1946) against contemporary production statistics (1987–2011). Native inland species historically contributed large quantities to the market but have deteriorated such that fishing is now limited, and conservation regulations exist. This pattern mirrors the demand-driven transition from freshwater to marine fisheries in Europe; hence, we propose that this pattern was predicated on societal expectations and that European settlement and introduction of non-native fishes led to systematic overexploitation and degradation of native inland fisheries species in Australia, representing a further consequence of neo-European colonization to ecology. Accurate interpretation of ecological change can ensure more appropriate management intervention. Concepts, such as neo-Europe, from alternative disciplines can inform the recognition and evaluation of patterns at regional and global scales.

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Anthropocene Baselines: Assessing Change and Managing Biodiversity in Human-Dominated Aquatic Ecosystems

Cited by 117 publications

References 63 publications

Wetlands In a Changing Climate: Science, Policy and Management

Wetlands In a Changing Climate: Science, Policy and Management

Understanding change in the ecological character of Ramsar wetlands: perspectives from a deeper time – synthesis

‘Neo-Europe’ and its ecological consequences: the example of systematic degradation in Australia's inland fisheries

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