ABSTRACT
At this stage of the Great Acceleration of the Anthropocene, humanity is experiencing the global issues of worsening climate change impacts, devastating damage from more frequent and severe natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic, all of which are attributable to ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss. The global community recognises that these issues pose severe societal and economic risks. “Nature-based solutions†have been posited as a means to address these threats. Nature-based solutions utilise natural terrestrial ecosystem functions to provide environmental, social and economic benefits at low cost. The growing social demand for nature-based solutions constitutes an opportunity for the field of ecology to expand beyond the conventional focus on biodiversity and conservation and shift to presenting biodiversity and ecosystem functions as the basis of human well-being and social sustainability. We sought to identify a trajectory for ecological research that is aimed at contributing to the effective implementation of nature-based solutions. First, we summarise current social needs related to terrestrial ecosystem utilisation. Next, we provide an overview of existing literature and knowledge regarding biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystem function, which are critical to nature-based solutions. Finally, we identify outstanding ecological hurdles to the implementation of these strategies and propose a way forward based on our findings. We explain that any basic presentation of ecological processes requires addressing the impacts of climate change and the interrelatedness of biodiversity, climate and social systems. Enhanced ecological process models are critical for linking biodiversity and ecosystems with climate and social systems. It is crucial to establish a framework that embeds monitoring systems, data infrastructure and delivery systems within society to mobilise terrestrial ecosystem and biodiversity data and results. Furthermore, the implementation of nature-based solutions must include acknowledging trade-offs in objectives and transdisciplinary research with other fields and stakeholders with the shared goal of transformative change. Ecological research must demonstrate more clearly how terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystems are linked to human health and well-being, as well as how they are affected by production and consumption systems. In the age of climate change, the knowledge and tools of the ecologist form the foundation of nature-based solutions and provide an indispensable theoretical basis for this approach.Alternate :抄録人新世ã®å¤§åŠ 速ã¨ã‚‚呼ã°ã‚Œã‚‹æ°—候変動ã®æ™‚代ã«ãŠã„ã¦ã€æ°—候変動影響ã®é¡•åœ¨åŒ–ã€è‡ªç„¶ç½å®³ã®æ¿€ç”šåŒ–ãƒ»é »ç™ºåŒ–ã€COVID-19ã®ä¸–界的æµè¡Œãªã©ã®åœ°çƒè¦æ¨¡ã®å•é¡ŒãŒå¢—大ã—ã¦ã„る。国際社会ã§ã¯ã€ã"れらã®å•é¡Œã¯ç”Ÿæ…‹ç³»ã®åŠ£åŒ–や生物多様性ã®æ失ãŒè¦å› ã§ã‚ã‚‹ã"ã¨ã€ãã—ã¦ç¤¾ä¼šçµŒæ¸ˆã«ã‚‚多大ãªæ害ã‚'与ãˆã‚‹å¤§ããªãƒªã‚¹ã‚¯ã§ã‚ã‚‹ã"ã¨ãŒå…±é€šã®èªè˜ã¨ãªã‚Šã¤ã¤ã‚る。ãã®ã‚ˆã†ãªçŠ¶æ³ã‚'åæ˜ ã—ã€é™¸åŸŸç”Ÿæ…‹ç³»ã®å¤šé¢çš„ãªæ©Ÿèƒ½ã‚'活用ã™ã‚‹ã"ã¨ã§ã€ä½Žã„コストã§ç'°å¢ƒãƒ»ç¤¾ä¼šãƒ»çµŒæ¸ˆã«ä¾¿ç›Šã‚'ã‚‚ãŸã‚‰ã—ã€ç¤¾ä¼šãŒæŠ±ãˆã‚‹è¤‡æ•°ã®èª²é¡Œã®è§£æ±ºã«è²¢çŒ®ã™ã‚‹ã€Œè‡ªç„¶ã‚'基盤ã¨ã—ãŸè§£æ±ºç–ã€ã¨ã„ã†æ–°ã—ã„概念ã«å¤§ããªæœŸå¾…ãŒå¯„ã›ã‚‰ã‚Œã¦ã„る。ã"ã®è§£æ±ºç–ã¸ã®ç¤¾ä¼šçš„ãªãƒ‹ãƒ¼ã‚ºã®é«˜ã¾ã‚Šã¯ã€ç”Ÿæ…‹å¦ãŒé•·å¹´å–り組ã‚"ã§ããŸç”Ÿç‰©å¤šæ§˜æ€§ã‚„生態系ã®ä¿å…¨ã«é–¢ã™ã‚‹èª²é¡Œã‚'超ãˆã¦ã€ç”Ÿæ…‹å¦ãŒç”Ÿç‰©å¤šæ§˜æ€§ã‚„生態系ãŒè±Šã‹ãªäººé–"社会ã‚'継続ã—発展ã•ã›ã‚‹çŸ¥çš„基盤ã¨ãªã‚‹ã"ã¨ã‚„ã€ç”Ÿæ…‹å¦ã®ç¤¾ä¼šçš„有用性ã‚'示ã™æ©Ÿä¼šã§ã‚る。ãã"ã§æœ¬ç¨¿ã§ã¯ã€æ°—候変動時代ã«ãŠã‘る「自然ã‚'基盤ã¨ã—ãŸè§£æ±ºç–ã€ã®å®Ÿè·µã«å‘ã‘ãŸç”Ÿæ…‹å¦ç ”究ã®æ–¹å‘ã¥ã‘ã‚'目的ã¨ã—ã€é™¸åŸŸç”Ÿæ…‹ç³»ã®æ´»ç”¨ã«å¯¾ã™ã‚‹ç¤¾ä¼šçš„ãªãƒ‹ãƒ¼ã‚ºã®ç¾çŠ¶ã‚'概観ã™ã‚‹ã€‚ãã®ä¸Šã§ã€ã€Œè‡ªç„¶ã‚'基盤ã¨ã—ãŸè§£æ±ºç–ã€ã®éµã¨ãªã‚‹é™¸åŸŸç”Ÿæ ‹ç³»ã®ç”Ÿç‰©å¤šæ§˜æ€§ã‚„生態系機能ã«é–¢ã™ã‚‹çŸ¥è¦‹ã‚'æ•´ç†ã—ã¦èª²é¡Œã‚'抽出ã—ã€ã"れらã‚'è¸ã¾ãˆã¦ä»Šå¾Œã®ç”Ÿæ…‹å¦ç ”究ã®æ–¹å‘性ã‚'å…·ä½"çš„ã«ç¤ºã™ã€‚ã¾ãšã€ç¾è±¡ã®åŸºç¤Žçš„ãªç†è§£ã¨ã„ã†è¦³ç‚¹ã‹ã‚‰ã¯ã€ç”Ÿç‰©å¤šæ§˜æ€§ã‚'å«ã‚€é™¸åŸŸç”Ÿæ…‹ç³»ã¨æ°—候システムや社会システムã¨ã®ç›¸äº'関係性ã‚'å«ã‚ãŸåŒ…括的ãªæ°—候変動影響ã®ãƒ¡ã‚«ãƒ‹ã‚ºãƒ ã®è§£æ˜Žã¨ã€äºˆæ¸¬ãƒ»è©•ä¾¡ã®ãŸã‚ã®ãƒ—ãƒã‚»ã‚¹ãƒ¢ãƒ‡ãƒ«ã®é«˜åº¦åŒ–ã‚'進ã‚ã‚‹ã"ã¨ã€ãã—ã¦åŒæ™‚ã«ã€é™¸åŸŸç”Ÿæ…‹ç³»ã¨ç”Ÿç‰©å¤šæ§˜æ€§ã®å¤‰åŒ–ã‚'示ã™ãŸã‚ã®åŠ¹æžœçš„ãªãƒ¢ãƒ‹ã‚¿ãƒªãƒ³ã‚°ã¨æƒ…å ±åŸºç›¤ã®å¼·åŒ–ã‚'è¡Œã„ã€ãƒ‡ãƒ¼ã‚¿ã‚„分æžçµæžœã‚'社会ã«é‚„å…ƒã™ã‚‹ãƒ•ãƒ¬ãƒ¼ãƒ ワークã‚'構築ã™ã‚‹ã"ã¨ãŒå„ªå…ˆäº‹é …ã§ã‚る。より実践的ãªè¦³ç‚¹ã‹ã‚‰ã¯ã€ã€Œè‡ªç„¶ã‚'基盤ã¨ã—ãŸè§£æ±ºç–ã€ã®å®Ÿè£…や社会変é©ãªã©ã«ãŠã„ã¦å…±é€šã®ç›®æ¨™ã‚'ã‚‚ã¤ä»–分野ã¨ã®å¦éš›ç ”究ã‚'ç©æ¥µçš„ã«è¡Œã†ã"ã¨ã«ã‚ˆã‚Šã€å®Ÿè£…ã«ãŠã‘る目的é–"ã®ãƒˆãƒ¬ãƒ¼ãƒ‰ã‚ªãƒ•ã‚'示ã™ã"ã¨ã€å¥åº·ãƒ»ç¦ç¥‰ã®èª²é¡Œã‚„生産・消費システムã®ä¸ã§ã®é™¸åŸŸç”Ÿæ…‹ç³»ã‚„生物多様性ã¸ã®å½±éŸ¿ã‚„役割ã‚'示ã™ã"ã¨ãªã©ãŒå„ªå…ˆäº‹é …ã¨ãªã‚‹ã€‚気候変動ã«ä»£è¡¨ã•ã‚Œã‚‹ä¸ç¢ºå®Ÿæ€§ã®é«˜ã„ç'°å¢ƒä¸‹ã§ã€åŠ¹æžœçš„ãªã€Œè‡ªç„¶ã‚'基盤ã¨ã—ãŸè§£æ±ºç–ã€ã®å®Ÿæ–½ãŸã‚ã«ã¯ã€ãã®ç§‘å¦çš„基盤ã¨ãªã‚‹ç”Ÿæ…‹å¦ã®çŸ¥è¦‹ã¨ãƒ„ールã¯ä¸å¯æ¬ ã§ã‚ã‚Šã€ã¾ãŸãã®å®Ÿè£…ã‚'通ã˜ãŸç¤¾ä¼šå¤‰é©ã¸ã®é"ç‹ã«ãŠã„ã¦ã‚‚生態å¦ã®è²¢çŒ®ãŒæœŸå¾…ã•ã‚Œã¦ã„る。
ABSTRACT
Understanding the success factors underlying each step in the process of biological invasion provides a robust foundation upon which to develop appropriate biosecurity measures. Insights into the processes occurring can be gained through clarifying the circumstances applying to non-native species that have arrived, established and, in some cases, successfully spread in terrestrial Antarctica. To date, examples include a small number of vascular plants and a greater diversity of invertebrates (including Diptera, Collembola, Acari and Oligochaeta), which share features of pre-adaptation to the environmental stresses experienced in Antarctica. In this synthesis, we examine multiple classic invasion science hypotheses that are widely considered to have relevance in invasion ecology and assess their utility in understanding the different invasion histories so far documented in the continent. All of these existing hypotheses appear relevant to some degree in explaining invasion processes in Antarctica. They are also relevant in understanding failed invasions and identifying barriers to invasion. However, the limited number of cases currently available constrains the possibility of establishing patterns and processes. To conclude, we discuss several new and emerging confirmatory methods as relevant tools to test and compare these hypotheses given the availability of appropriate sample sizes in the future.
ABSTRACT
A pandemic like novel coronavirus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2) not only poses serious public health repercussions but also affects the socio-economic and environmental conditions of the affected countries. The increased consumption of material resources in conjunction with ‘containment and preventive measures’ is generating an unprecedented amount of potentially infectious solid waste, especially that of plastic origin, which if mismanaged, is bound to affect the ecosystem and public health, as the virus can survive on fomites for longer duration. COVID-19 related pandemic waste, such as Personal protective equipment (PPEs), sanitizer and water bottles, disinfection wipes, and Single use Plastics (SUPs) products has already found its way to the aquatic and terrestrial environment. Even before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the management of plastic waste, an environmental stressor with trans-boundary migration capabilities, was a major environmental issue for every stake-holder.In this paper, we propose a separate domain in the waste management framework for the effective management of pandemic related solid waste. Factors and sources contributing to increased plastic waste generation are discussed in detail. A concise picture of global plastic demand through sectors and polymer types is presented and speculations are made on how COVID-19 is going to affect the plastic demand. Current solid waste handling and management practices in developed and developing countries are critically examined from the perspective of this pandemic. We identified various challenges that waste management sectors are facing currently and offered possible solutions.Concerns of transmission through fomites is bringing a change in public behavior and consumption pattern which affects 3R practices, while fear of secondary transmission from occupational infections is interfering with 3R practices at end-of-life plastic waste management. The legislative and restrictive frameworks on plastic use being currently put-on hold at the governmental level to ensure public safety are being used by the plastic industry to lobby for increased plastic consumption. The inability of the governments to win public confidence is further escalating unsustainable practices and slowing the shift towards sustainable economy. It is imperative to enforce sustainable practices without putting public safety at risk and to ensure that an unsustainable societal attitude wouldn’t be reinstated in the post-pandemic world. Lastly, eight research and policy points suggested here may guide future studies and governmental frameworks in the domain of COVID-19 pandemic related solid waste handling and management.
ABSTRACT
Here we describe the curriculum and outcomes from a data-intensive geomorphic analysis course, “Geoscience Field Issues Using High-Resolution Topography to Understand Earth Surface Processes”, which pivoted to virtual in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The curriculum covers technologies for manual and remotely sensed topographic data methods, including (1) Global Positioning Systems and Global Navigation Satellite System (GPS/GNSS) surveys, (2) Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry, and (3) ground-based (terrestrial laser scanning, TLS) and airborne lidar. Course content focuses on Earth-surface process applications but could be adapted for other geoscience disciplines. Many other field courses were canceled in summer 2020, so this course served a broad range of undergraduate and graduate students in need of a field course as part of degree or research requirements. Resulting curricular materials are available freely within the National Association of Geoscience Teachers' (NAGT's) “Teaching with Online Field Experiences” collection. The authors pre-collected GNSS data, uncrewed-aerial-system-derived (UAS-derived) photographs, and ground-based lidar, which students then used in course assignments. The course was run over a 2-week period and had synchronous and asynchronous components. Students created SfM models that incorporated post-processed GNSS ground control points and created derivative SfM and TLS products, including classified point clouds and digital elevation models (DEMs). Students were successfully able to (1) evaluate the appropriateness of a given survey/data approach given site conditions, (2) assess pros and cons of different data collection and post-processing methods in light of field and time constraints and limitations of each, (3) conduct error and geomorphic change analysis, and (4) propose or implement a protocol to answer a geomorphic question. Overall, our analysis indicates the course had a successful implementation that met student needs as well as course-specific and NAGT learning outcomes, with 91 % of students receiving an A, B, or C grade. Unexpected outcomes of the course included student self-reflection and redirection and classmate support through a daily reflection and discussion post. Challenges included long hours in front of a computer, computing limitations, and burnout because of the condensed nature of the course. Recommended implementation improvements include spreading the course out over a longer period of time or adopting only part of the course and providing appropriate computers and technical assistance. This paper and published curricular materials should serve as an implementation and assessment guide for the geoscience community to use in virtual or in-person high-resolution topographic data courses that can be adapted for individual labs or for an entire field or data course.
ABSTRACT
Recent anthropogenic activities have degraded peatlands, the largest natural reservoir of soil carbon, thereby reducing their carbon uptake from the atmosphere. As one of the primary sources of methane (CH4) emissions in terrestrial ecosystems, peatlands also contribute to atmospheric greenhouse gases. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Indonesia implemented a lockdown referred to as large-scale social restrictions (LSSR) in areas with high case numbers. To evaluate the effects of anthropogenic activity on peatlands, we investigated the CH4 concentrations in the atmosphere above the tropical peatlands of the Indonesian province South Sumatra before the LSSR (March 2020), during the LSSR (May 2020), and during the corresponding months of the previous year (March and May 2019). Using satellite-retrieved data from NASA, viz., the CH4 concentration and gross primary production (GPP) measured by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on board Aqua and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board Terra, respectively, we discovered a decrease of approximately 5.5% in the mean CH4 concentration (which averaged 1.73 ppm across the periods prior to lockdown) as well as an increase in the GPP (which ranged from 53.3 to 63.9 g C m–2 day–1 during the lockdown, indicating high atmospheric carbon intake) during the LSSR. Thus, the restrictions during lockdown, which reduced anthropogenic activities, such as land use conversion and biomass burning, and related events, such as peatland and forest fires, significantly influenced the level of atmospheric CH4 above the peatlands in Indonesia.
ABSTRACT
The world has already been experienced the severe adverse effects of COVID-19 at every levels. When it is understood that the COVID-19 infection is spread in the community via respiratory transmission from human, then the widespread use of plastic-made personal protective equipments (PPEs) like face masks and hand gloves have tremendously increased throughout the world. Although it has reduced the spreading of virus, however, careless disposal or mismanagement of these single use PPEs has created another major concern for the environment as plastics are known source of environmental contamination. In one hand, they are infected with SARS-CoV-2, while in the other, they act as a carrier or vector or pathways for other pathogens or diseases, and hence can increase the degree of continuing pandemic. Besides, there might have chance that plastics or microplastics may be responsible for introducing new pathogenic viruses or bacteria to humankind. As such, it is clear that more research needs to be conducted to clarify this fact, and its underlying mechanisms. In this review, we briefly explored how PPEs used in the COVID-19 pandemic aggravated existing microplastic pollution, how they could act as disease routes or vectors, and how they could introduce new pathogens to the terrestrial and marine environment. Addressing these questions may create awareness in plastic use, waste management and enacting relevant policy which may protect our environment and health.