Emerging issues in biodiversity &amp; conservation management: The need for a palaeoecological perspective

Froyd, Cynthia A.; Willis, Katherine J.

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2008.06.006

Cited by 195 publications

(150 citation statements)

References 100 publications

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“…Given that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Pachauri and Reisinger 2007) has concluded that Earth's climate is very likely changing at a pace unprecedented in the last 10,000 years, this leads us to wonder how we can best protect the value of our lands and renewable resources for both ourselves and for future generations? It is crucial for palaeoecologists to tackle issues associated with conservation ecology (Froyd and Willis 2008). In particular, paleoecology can contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between climate and ecosystem response in the context of natural range of variability and ecological thresholds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, paleoecology can contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between climate and ecosystem response in the context of natural range of variability and ecological thresholds. Given that most of the available literature on ecosystems is focused on timescales less than 50 years, palaeoecological studies focusing on longer time horizons and ecological questions are useful (Froyd and Willis 2008). This is especially important in future conservation efforts as novel ecosystems may become the norm given climate change (Williams et al 2007;Hobbs et al 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental change in Garry oak (Quercus garryana) ecosystems: the evolution of an eco-cultural landscape

Pellatt

Gedalof

2014

Biodivers Conserv

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Globally, colonialism resulted in the suppression of aboriginal land management practices, abetted by the concept of terra nullius, ''belonging to no one''; the belief that aboriginal people had little influence on or ownership of the land. Until recently, this ideology was entrenched in resource management and policy. Traditional ecological knowledge, historical ecology, archaeology, and palaeoecological research have shown these assumptions to be wrong. In this paper we take a multidisciplinary approach (biogeography, paleoecology, dendrochronology, and bioclimatic envelope modeling) to better understand the role of climate and fire in the formation of eco-cultural landscapes. We synthesize results from pollen and charcoal analysis in Garry oak ecosystems that indicate there were continuous and frequent prescribed burning events, with more severe fires occurring every 26-41 years in southwest British Columbia throughout the Anthropocene (*last 250 years) that substantially altered forest structure and composition. These results are consistent with stand age reconstructions in BC and Washington with Garry oak establishment beginning *1850 AD, corresponding with modern fire exclusion, aboriginal population decline, and end of the Little Ice Age. Douglas-fir recruitment has been continuous since *1900, with succession of oak woodland to closed conifer forest at most sites. These findings indicate that the structure of many Garry oak ecosystems have been profoundly influenced by eco-cultural practices. Overwhelming evidence indicates that in many cases these ecosystems are dependent on prescribed fire for their open structure. In

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental change in Garry oak (Quercus garryana) ecosystems: the evolution of an eco-cultural landscape

Pellatt

Gedalof

2014

Biodivers Conserv

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“…Palaeoenvironmental data can provide a detailed understanding of these changes and inform the range of potential options for management and/or restoration, in effect "learning from the past" (Anderson et al, 2006;Dearing, 2006;Dearing et al, 2006;McCarroll, 2010;Newman et al, 2010). While there are unlikely to be any exact analogues for a future warmer world, Quaternary palaeoenvironmental records, in particular, are important in understanding how climate, physical processes, sea level and habitats have changed in the past and enabling informed evaluation of scenarios of future change over different temporal and spatial scales (Willis and Birks, 2006;Willis et al, 2007Willis et al, , 2010Froyd and Willis, 2008;Davies and Bunting, 2010). For example, comparison of UKCP09 relative sea-level rise rates with those for the mid-and late-Holocene allows a means of scaling potential future coastline changes (Gehrels, 2010;Rennie and Hansom, 2011), and changes in slope stability, sediment production, landform distributions and floodplain and wetland histories can provide pointers for future catchment responses (Higgitt and Lee, 2001;Lane et al, 2007;Macklin et al, 2010).…”

Section: Geodiversity and Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Engaging with geodiversity—why it matters

Gordon

Barron

Hansom

et al. 2012

Proceedings of the Geologists' Association

126

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The Conference, 'Engaging with Geodiversity -Why it Matters', December 2010, addressed the wider relevance of geodiversity in Scotland. A key challenge is to integrate geodiversity within existing policy relating to the way we work and live, and therefore to inform better the decisions we make about a sustainable future for our environment. This will require partnership working among the geoscience, geoconservation and voluntary sectors at both national and local levels, not only to demonstrate convincingly the economic, social, cultural and environmental values and benefits of geodiversity, but also to deliver real outcomes for both people and nature. The key drivers that provide particular opportunities, as well as challenges, for the integration of geodiversity are the development of an ecosystem approach and how society responds to climate change. Addressing these will be crucial from a geoconservation perspective to develop a wider understanding of the essential environmental role played by geodiversity and for the protection of key sites, both from a policy perspective in delivering economic, social and environmental benefits, and from an academic perspective in ensuring support for geoscience. The key message -that geodiversity matters -must be communicated strongly to the highest levels of government, among key interest groups and at a local community level.

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“…What combination of abiotic and biotic processes resulted in such novel ecosystems (Willis et al 2010a)? Answers to these and related questions (Froyd & Willis 2008;MacDonald et al 2008;Willis & Bhagwat 2010;Willis et al 2010b) highlight the contributions that palaeoecology including environmental reconstructions can make not only in understanding ecological and evolutionary processes responsible for biodiversity patterns, but also in determining current and future management strategies necessary to ensure biodiversity conservation (Willis et al 2010a). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative Climate Reconstructions Based on Late-Quaternary Biological Proxies

Birks

2011

TOECOLJ

337

284

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Abstract:The importance of reconstructing past environments quantitatively in palaeoecology is reviewed by showing that many ecological questions asked of palaeoecological data commonly involve the reconstructions of past environment. Three basic approaches to reconstructing past climate from palaeoecological data are outlined and discussed in terms of their assumptions, strengths, and weaknesses. These approaches are the indicator-species approach involving bioclimateenvelope modelling; the assemblage approach involving modern analogue techniques and response surfaces; and the multivariate calibration-function approach. Topics common to all approaches are reviewed -presentation and interpretation, evaluation and validation, comparison, and general limitations of climate reconstructions. Challenges and possible future developments are presented and the potential future role of quantitative climate reconstructions in palaeoecology is summarised.

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Emerging issues in biodiversity & conservation management: The need for a palaeoecological perspective

Cited by 195 publications

References 100 publications

Environmental change in Garry oak (Quercus garryana) ecosystems: the evolution of an eco-cultural landscape

Environmental change in Garry oak (Quercus garryana) ecosystems: the evolution of an eco-cultural landscape

Engaging with geodiversity—why it matters

Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative Climate Reconstructions Based on Late-Quaternary Biological Proxies

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