scholarly journals The Homogocene: a research prospectus for the study of biotic homogenisation

NeoBiota ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 23-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian D. Olden ◽  
Lise Comte ◽  
Xingli Giam
Keyword(s):  
Global Change ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Significant Progress ◽  
Temporal Scales ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
The World ◽  
Biotic Homogenisation ◽  
Long Term Preservation

In an era of global change, the process of biotic homogenisation by which regional biotas become more similar through time has attracted considerable attention from ecologists. Here, a retrospective look at the literature is taken and the question asked how comprehensive is the understanding of this global phenomenon? The goal is to identify potential areas for additional and future enquiries to advance this research frontier and best ensure the long-term preservation of biological diversity across the world. Six propositions are presented here to; (1) broaden our geographic and taxonomic understanding, (2) diversify the spatial and temporal scales of inquiry, (3) reconcile past and embrace new approaches to quantification, (4) improve our knowledge of the underlying drivers, (5) reveal the conservation implications and (6) forecast future homogenisation. It is argued that significant progress in the understanding of the causes, consequences and conservation implication of biotic homogenisation will come by integrating concepts and approaches from ecology, evolution and conservation across a hierarchy of spatial and temporal scales.

scholarly journals Cenozoic evolution of the steppe-desert biome in Central Asia

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (41) ◽  
pp. eabb8227
Author(s):  
N. Barbolini ◽  
A. Woutersen ◽  
G. Dupont-Nivet ◽  
D. Silvestro ◽  
D. Tardif ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Regime Shifts ◽  
Stable States ◽  
Temporal Scales ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
The World ◽  
Human Use

The origins and development of the arid and highly seasonal steppe-desert biome in Central Asia, the largest of its kind in the world, remain largely unconstrained by existing records. It is unclear how Cenozoic climatic, geological, and biological forces, acting at diverse spatial and temporal scales, shaped Central Asian ecosystems through time. Our synthesis shows that the Central Asian steppe-desert has existed since at least Eocene times but experienced no less than two regime shifts, one at the Eocene–Oligocene Transition and one in the mid-Miocene. These shifts separated three successive “stable states,” each characterized by unique floral and faunal structures. Past responses to disturbance in the Asian steppe-desert imply that modern ecosystems are unlikely to recover their present structures and diversity if forced into a new regime. This is of concern for Asian steppes today, which are being modified for human use and lost to desertification at unprecedented rates.

Biodiversity & Environmental Sustainability amid Human Domination of Global Ecosystems

Daedalus ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 141 (3) ◽  
pp. 108-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Tilman
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Societal Relevance ◽  
Global Demand ◽  
The World ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Global Biodiversity

Concern about the loss of Earth's biological diversity sparked two decades of research of unprecedented intensity, intellectual excitement, and societal relevance. This research shows that biodiversity is among the most important factors determining how ecosystems function. In particular, the loss of biodiversity decreases the productivity, stability, and efficiency of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. These research findings come at a time of rapidly increasing threats to global biodiversity resulting from agricultural land clearing, climate change, and pollution caused by globally accelerating demand for food and energy. The world faces the grand, multifaceted challenge of meeting global demand for food and energy while preserving Earth's biodiversity and the long-term sustainability of both global societies and the ecosystems upon which all life depends. The solutions to this challenge will require major advances in, and syntheses among, the environmental and social sciences.

Biodiversity: Implementation of the 1992 CBD in Malaysia†

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 273-308
Author(s):  
Tanya Marie Lopez ◽  
Rajesvaran Nagarajan ◽  
Sobana Swarta Thevi
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Winter Temperatures ◽  
The World ◽  
State Of The Environment ◽  
Mother Earth

Of late, particularly since the inception of the Convention on Biological Diversity (“CBD”), there has been some recognition of the relevance of biological resources and the need to protect and conserve these resources for the benefit of humankind. Natural disasters which have been occurring around the world, such as the recent earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, the 2009 earthquake in Haiti, the floods in Pakistan and the mystery surrounding the fallen dead birds from the sky en masse in Arkansas have raised concerns on the state of the environment in which we live in today. The resultant long-term effects of such natural disasters is colossal to the inhabitants of mother Earth although those who are not directly affected by such disasters are rarely of the view that they have, in some way, contributed to the happenings of such disasters. In Europe and parts of America, winter temperatures plummeted towards the end of 2010 recording some of the lowest temperatures in history whilst in the southern hemisphere, cyclones and floods have plagued Australia thereby giving rise to prophecies that perhaps, the world may be coming to an end.

scholarly journals Cryopreservation and transplantation of common carp spermatogonia

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Franěk ◽  
Zoran Marinović ◽  
Jelena Lujić ◽  
Béla Urbányi ◽  
Michaela Fučíková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Common Carp ◽  
Sperm Cryopreservation ◽  
Post Transplantation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cultured Fish ◽  
The World ◽  
Exogenous Origin ◽  
Long Term Preservation ◽  
Surrogate Production

AbstractCommon carp (Cyprinus carpio) is one of the most cultured fish species over the world with many different breeds and plenty of published protocols for sperm cryopreservation, however, data regarding preservation of gonadal tissue and surrogate production is still missing. A protocol for freezing common carp spermatogonia was developed through varying different factors along a set of serial subsequent experiments. Among the six cryoprotectants tested, the best survival was achieved with dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO). In the next experiment, a wide range of cooling rates (0.5–10 °C/min) and different concentrations of Me2SO were tested resulting in the highest survival using 2 M Me2SO and cooling rate of –1 Q59 A When testing different tissue sizes and incubation times in the cryomedium, the highest viability was observed when incubating 100 mg tissue fragments for 30 min. Finally, sugar supplementation did not yield significant differences. When testing different equilibration (ES) and vitrification solutions (VS) used for needle-immersed vitrification, no significant differences were observed between the tested groups. Additionally, varied exposure time to VS did not improve the vitrification outcome where the viability was 4-fold lower than that of freezing. The functionality of cryopreserved cells was tested by interspecific transplantation into sterilized goldfish recipients. The exogenous origin of the gonads in goldfish recipients was confirmed by molecular markers and incorporation rate was over 40% in both groups at 3 months post transplantation. Results of this study can serve as an alternative way for long-term preservation of germplasm in carp which can be recovered in a surrogate recipient.

scholarly journals The main dynamics of sunflower research presented at the 19th International Sunflower Conference in 2016

OCL ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Etienne Pilorgé ◽  
Sylvie Dauguet ◽  
Christophe Jestin ◽  
Emmanuelle Mestries
Keyword(s):  
International Cooperation ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Significant Progress ◽  
Crop Models ◽  
The World ◽  
Climatic Constraints ◽  
The Future

The International Sunflower Conference takes place every four years under the auspices of the ISA, International Sunflower Association. Before the 20th Conference in June 2020, a review of the proceedings of the Edirne conference, in June 2016, offers a vision of the crop and research dynamics in the world, as well as international cooperation programmes in progress or to be developed in the period 2016–2020. They are essential for the future of this crop for which demands tend to diversify. Sustained efforts have led to significant progress in genomics. The challenges posed by pests and by climatic constraints remain significant. The interest in gathering knowledge on crop models incorporating varietal parameters appears clearly, both to establish long-term adaptation strategies and to make better use of current resources.

scholarly journals The Importance of Multi-Scale Temporal and Spatial Management for Cemetery Trees in Malmö, Sweden

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Quinton ◽  
Johan Östberg ◽  
Peter N. Duinker
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Urban Forests ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Temporal Scales ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Tree Management ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Age Class ◽  
Management Plans

Research Highlights: A large body of research highlighted the important contributions that urban forests make to cities and their inhabitants. However, our urban forests face threats from issues such as rapid urbanization, climate change, and the spread of pests and diseases. As such, proactive and effective management is necessary to ensure their long-term sustainability. Given the multiple spatial and temporal scales on which threats can arise, effective management needs to account for these scales and adjust accordingly. The degree to which this currently happens is unclear. Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the role of multi-scale management in urban forestry, using cemeteries in Malmö, Sweden as a case study. Cemeteries can provide extensive tree canopy but are not readily considered in urban forest management. We sought to determine (1) the threats to the current cemetery tree populations, (2) the extent of multi-scale cemetery tree management, (3) whether tree management plans promote multi-scale management, and (4) how cemetery tree management can be improved. Materials and Methods: Malmö cemetery tree inventories were analyzed with respect to size class and species diversity. Existing cemetery tree management plans were examined to determine the spatial and temporal scales of their recommendations. Interviews were conducted with cemetery managers to determine management priorities and actions. Results: We found that cemetery tree populations in Malmö suffer from a lack of age class and species diversity. Management tends to occur on short time scales and efforts focus mainly on addressing individual trees, although some consideration is given to large-scale species diversification. The management plans previously created for these cemetery trees make recommendations for age class and species diversification but are yet to be used extensively by cemetery managers. Conclusions: The long-term stability of Malmö’s cemetery tree populations is threatened by a lack of species and age diversity. Current management efforts emphasize addressing small-scale issues. Although there is a desire to improve species diversity, this can cause conflict with existing cultural values.

Preservation and Access to Digital Materials

2018 ◽  
pp. 150-174
Author(s):  
Trywell Kalusopa
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Learning Curve ◽  
Policy Options ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Digital World ◽  
Collaborative Strategies ◽  
The World ◽  
Developed World ◽  
Long Term Preservation

As the digital world unfolds, Africa continues to grapple with the issues of preservation and access of digital materials. This chapter demonstrates through a systematic literature review how Africa could learn from other efforts in the world to develop and guide their own strategic and policy options to deal with issues of preservation and access of digital materials. The chapter reviews literature on global or universal collaborative strategies and efforts on digital preservation initiated in the developed world as a learning curve for Africa. The current challenges of national and institutional capacities regarding the preservation of digital materials in selected African countries that have made some visible efforts and impact are also discussed. The chapter then makes several recommendations on the strategic and policy options for improving the state of material preservation, human and material requirements in order to improve the long-term preservation, and standards for the longer-term usability and interoperability of digital materials in Africa.

scholarly journals We Are the World? Anthropocene Cultural Production between Geopoetics and Geopolitics

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 147-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Last
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Production ◽  
Aime Cesaire ◽  
The Political ◽  
Temporal Scales ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Political Work ◽  
The World ◽  
Simone Weil ◽  
Human World ◽  
Artistic Interest

The proposal of the ‘Anthropocene’ as a new geological epoch where humans represent the dominant natural force has renewed artistic interest in the ‘geopoetic’, which is mobilized by cultural producers to incite changes in personal and collective participation in planetary life and politics. This article draws attention to prior engagements with the geophysical and the political: the work of Simone Weil and of the editors of the Martinican cultural journal Tropiques, Suzanne and Aimé Césaire. Synthesizing the political and scientific shifts in human-world relationships of their time, both projects are set against oppressive or narcissistic materialisms and experiment with the image of the ‘cosmic’ to cultivate a preoccupation not (only) with a tangible materialism but with an intangible one that emphasizes process and connectivity across wide spatial and temporal scales. The writers’ movement between poetics and politics will be used to enquire what kind of socio-political work a contemporary geopoetic could potentially do.

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