How Ecosystems Fight Global Change

Multiple Stressors Reduce Ecosystems' Resistance

Ecosystems provide crucial services, such as food, water purification, and carbon sequestration. However, these services are threatened by global change factors like climate change, land-use change, and pollution.

Key Findings

• Ecosystems' resistance to global change declines as the number of stressors increases.
• This decline is particularly pronounced after long-term exposure to stressors.
• The resistance of multiple ecosystem services decreases as the number of stressors increases.

Global Change Stressors

Using data from 1880 surface soil samples from 68 countries, researchers found that increases in the number of global change stressors reduced ecosystems' resistance to change.

These stressors include:

• Climate change
• Land-use change
• Pollution
• Biological invasions
• Overexploitation

Implications

The study's findings have implications for conservation and land management. Protecting ecosystems from multiple stressors is crucial for maintaining their ability to provide vital services.

Strategies to mitigate global change impacts include:

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Conserving and restoring natural habitats
• Implementing sustainable land-use practices
• Reducing pollution
• Managing invasive species
• Preventing overexploitation

Conclusion

Ecosystems play a vital role in human well-being. Protecting them from global change stressors is essential for ensuring their continued ability to provide crucial services.

By taking steps to mitigate global change impacts, we can help ecosystems adapt and thrive in the face of future challenges.

References

1. Degrune et al. (2022). Global change stressors reduce multiple ecosystem services resistance. Nature Geoscience.
2. IPCC (2021). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.