scholarly journals Bringing Disciplines and People Together to Characterize the Plastic and Genetic Responses of Molluscs to Environmental Change

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omera B Matoo ◽  
Maurine Neiman
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Sequencing Technologies ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Genomic Adaptation ◽  
Change Framework ◽  
Genetic Responses

Abstract Molluscs are remarkably diverse and are found across nearly all ecosystems, meaning that members of this ancient animal phylum provide a powerful means to study genomic-phenotype connections in a climate change framework. Recent advances in genomic sequencing technologies and genome assembly approaches finally allow the relatively cheap and tractable assembly of high-quality mollusc genome resources. After a brief review of these issues and advances, we use a case-study approach to provide some concrete examples of phenotypic plasticity and genomic adaptation in molluscs in response to environmental factors expected to be influenced by climate change. Our goal is to use molluscs as a “common currency” to demonstrate how organismal and evolutionary biologists can use natural systems to make phenotype-genotype connections in the context of changing environments. In parallel, we emphasize the critical need to collaborate and integrate findings across taxa and disciplines in order to use new data and information to advance our understanding of mollusc biology in the context of global environmental change. We end with a brief synthetic summary of the papers inspired by the 2021 SICB Symposium “Genomic Perspectives in Comparative Physiology of Molluscs: Integration across Disciplines”.

scholarly journals Bringing Disciplines And People Together To Characterize The Plastic And Genetic Responses Of Molluscs To Environmental Change

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omera Matoo ◽  
Maurine Neiman
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Sequencing Technologies ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Genomic Adaptation ◽  
Change Framework ◽  
Genetic Responses

Mollusks are remarkably diverse and are found across nearly all ecosystems, meaning that members of this ancient animal phylum provide a powerful means to study genomic-phenotype connections in a climate change framework. Recent advances in genomic sequencing technologies and genome assembly approaches finally allow the relatively cheap and tractable assembly of high-quality mollusk genome resources. After a brief review of these issues and advances, we use a case-study approach to provide some concrete examples of phenotypic plasticity and genomic adaptation in mollusks in response to environmental factors expected to be influenced by climate change. Our goal is to use mollusks as a “common currency” to demonstrate how organismal and evolutionary biologists can use natural systems to make phenotype-genotype connections in the context of changing environments. In parallel, we emphasize the critical need to collaborate and integrate findings across taxa and disciplines in order to use new data and information to advance our understanding of mollusk biology in the context of global environmental change. We end with a brief synthetic summary of the papers inspired by the 2021 SICB Symposium “Genomic Perspectives in Comparative Physiology of Molluscs: Integration across Disciplines”.

Global Environmental Change and Emerging Infectious Diseases

2019 ◽  
pp. 38-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Machalaba ◽  
Cristina Romanelli ◽  
Peter Stoett
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Global Environmental

The prediction of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and the avoidance of their tremendous social and economic costs is contingent on the identification of their most likely drivers. It is argued that the drivers of global environmental change (and climate change as both a driver and an impact) are often the drivers of EIDs; and that the two overlap to such a strong degree that targeting these drivers is sound epidemiological policy. Several drivers overlap with the leading causes of biodiversity loss, providing opportunities for health and biodiversity sectors to generate synergies at local and global levels. This chapter provides a primer on EID ecology, reviews underlying drivers and mechanisms that facilitate pathogen spillover and spread, provides suggested policy and practice-based actions toward the prevention of EIDs in the context of environmental change, and identifies knowledge gaps for the purpose of further research.

The Human Dimensions of Global Change

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Liverman ◽  
Brent Yarnal
Keyword(s):  
Global Change ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Human Dimensions ◽  
Water Diversion ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Global Environmental

The human–environment condition has emerged as one of the central issues of the new millennium, especially as it has become apparent that human activity is transforming nature at a global scale in both systemic and cumulative ways. Originating with concerns about potential climate warming, the global environmental change agenda rapidly enlarged to include changes in structure and function of the earth’s natural systems, notably those systems critical for life, and the policy implications of these changes, especially focused on the coupled human–environment system. Recognition of the unprecedented pace, magnitude, and spatial scale of global change, and of the pivotal role of humankind in creating and responding to it, has led to the emergence of a worldwide, interdisciplinary effort to understand the human dimensions of global change. The term “global change” now encompasses a range of research issues including those relating to economic, political, and cultural globalization, but in this chapter we limit our focus to global environmental change and to the field that has become formally known as the human dimensions of global (or global environmental) change. We also focus mainly on the work of geographers rather than attempting to review the whole human dimensions research community. Intellectually, geography is well positioned to contribute to global environmental change research (Liverman 1999). The large-scale human transformation of the planet through activities such as agriculture, deforestation, water diversion, fossil fuel use, and urbanization, and the impacts of these on living conditions through changes in, for example, climate and biodiversity, has highlighted the importance of scholarship that analyzes the human–environmental relationship and can inform policy. Geography is one of the few disciplines that has historically claimed human–environment relationships as a definitional component of itself (Glacken 1967; Marsh 1864) and has fostered a belief in and reward system for engaging integrative approaches to problem solving (Golledge 2002; Turner 2002). Moreover, global environmental change is intimately spatial and draws upon geography-led remote sensing and geographic information science (Liverman et al. 1998). Geographers anticipated the emergence of current global change concerns (Thomas et al. 1956; Burton et al. 1978) and were seminal in the development of the multidisciplinary programs of study into the human dimensions of global change.

Global Environmental Change and Emerging Infectious Diseases

2017 ◽  
pp. 24-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Machalaba ◽  
Cristina Romanelli ◽  
Peter Stoett
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Global Environmental

The prediction of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and the avoidance of their tremendous social and economic costs is contingent on the identification of their most likely drivers. It is argued that the drivers of global environmental change (and climate change as both a driver and an impact) are often the drivers of EIDs; and that the two overlap to such a strong degree that targeting these drivers is sound epidemiological policy. Several drivers overlap with the leading causes of biodiversity loss, providing opportunities for health and biodiversity sectors to generate synergies at local and global levels. This chapter provides a primer on EID ecology, reviews underlying drivers and mechanisms that facilitate pathogen spillover and spread, provides suggested policy and practice-based actions toward the prevention of EIDs in the context of environmental change, and identifies knowledge gaps for the purpose of further research.

Wilderness and its place in nature conservation in Australia

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 182 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. Mackey ◽  
R. G. Lesslie ◽  
D. B. Lindenmayer ◽  
H. A. Nix
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Conservation Science ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Conservation Of Biodiversity

Most of the concepts considered under the broad umbrella of nature conservation have changed considerably during the last century. This is the result of an evolving process driven primarily by the rapid and sustained transformation of natural systems due to agricultural and industrial development, growth in public awareness and appreciation of the value of natural systems, and developments and shifting priorities in conservation science. Prevailing views and accepted principles are necessarily challenged as a part of this process. At present, both in Australia and internationally, the concept of wilderness is under challenge. In particular, its relevance and role in nature conservation is being questioned in the light of present priorities such as the conservation of biodiversity and concerns over global environmental change. This is taking place against a background of changing understandings as to the relationship between indigenous societies and the environment.

Environmental Hazards, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: J. K. Mitchell’s Relevance to the Global Sustainable Development Agenda

2016 ◽  
Vol 03 (02) ◽  
pp. 1671006
Author(s):  
Juha I. Uitto
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Environmental Hazards ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Complex Disasters

This paper argues how Mitchell’s work on complex disasters and environmental hazards is highly relevant to the global Sustainable Development Agenda and the international organizations involved in its implementation. The paper takes as its starting point two United Nations University projects led by Mitchell in the 1990s and reviews their prescience in terms of current developments in the context of urbanizations, economic development, population growth, and global environmental change. The issue of adaptation to climate change is highlighted as exemplifying the importance of integrated approaches encompassing human and natural systems, as advocated by Mitchell. Challenges to program and policy evaluation are then discussed with regard to adaptation, adopting Mitchell’s approach of understanding local situations while anchoring evaluation in scientific knowledge.

Research on climate change and migration where are we and where are we going?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Ferris
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Forced Migration ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Executive Summary ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Governance Challenges ◽  
Migration Crisis ◽  
And Migration

Abstract Today the issue of climate change-induced mobility—whether displacement, migration, or relocation—is receiving increased interest from policy-makers, academics, and the general public. Many are turning to the academic community for answers to basic questions (how many people are expected to move? when? where?) and for directions for future policies (what measures can support people to remain in their communities? If people have to move, how can the disruption be minimized—for those moving and for the affected communities?). While there is a growing body of literature on the issue, the academic community writ large is presently unable to provide consistent comprehensive evidence or guidance on these issues. Most obviously, there is no consensus about what terminology to use—climate change refugee? Environmental migrant? [e.g. Dun and Gemenne 2008. ‘Defining Environmental Migration’, Forced Migration Review, 31: 10–11]. Nor is there consensus on how many people are expected to move; different research projects use different time frames (2030, 2050, 2100, etc.), are based on different assumptions, and (not surprisingly) come up with different estimates, ranging from 50 million to 1 billion migrants associated with the effects of climate change during this century [e.g. Stern, N. (2006) ‘Stern review on the economics of climate change. Executive Summary’. London: HM Treasury. Baird 2007. Human Tide: The Real Migration Crisis: A Christian Aid Report. London: Christian Aid; UN Development Programme (UNDP) (2007/2008). Human Development Report: Fighting Climate Change, Human Solidarity in a Divided World; Kolmannskog 2009, Climate Change, Disaster, Displacement and Migration: Initial Evidence from Africa. New Issues in Refuge Research (Research Paper No. 180). Geneva: UNHCR; Warner 2009. Global Environmental Change and Migration: Governance Challenges. Global Environmental Change].

Integrating livelihoods approaches with research on development and climate change adaptation

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Clay
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Sustainable Livelihoods ◽  
Human Dimensions ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Analytical Frameworks ◽  
Oriented Approach

This article advances theory and methods for integrating sustainable livelihoods approaches (SLAs) with assessments of adaptive capacity to climate change. The livelihoods concept has been inconsistently applied in research on human dimensions of global environmental change, resulting in limited understanding about how development programmes and policies influence adaptive capacity. Encouraging reflection on the conceptual and methodological overlaps of livelihoods and adaptation, I suggest a process-oriented approach to adaptation that centres on how adaptive capacity is unevenly shaped. Livelihoods analytical frameworks can help visualize complex adaptation pathways, illuminating how households and individuals come to differ in their capacities to adapt to climate change.

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