Balance of nature: entire Earth ecosystems mapped (Introduction)

by David Turell , Thursday, October 13, 2022, 05:28 (563 days ago) @ David Turell

An important study:

https://phys.org/news/2022-10-entire-planet-ecosystems.html

"A global cross-disciplinary team of scientists led by UNSW Sydney researchers has developed the first comprehensive classification of the world's ecosystems across land, rivers and wetlands, and seas. The ecosystem typology will enable more coordinated and effective biodiversity conservation, critical for human well-being. (my bold)

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"The study, published today in Nature, explores the science that underpins the typology, as well as how it can help achieve objectives in global policy that flow to individual countries. With UNSW's support, IUCN launched the first public version of the typology in 2020 and, since then, the researchers have refined and updated it.

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"The typology allows us to understand broad global patterns, including the transformation of ecosystems by people. Ten percent of ecosystems are artificially created and maintained by humans but occupy more than 30 percent of the Earth's land surface—what is left is home to 94 percent of threatened species on the IUCN Red List.

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"Ecosystems provide homes and vital life support for all plants and animals, and supply essential ecosystem services that sustain business, culture and human well-being. Those services—such as provision of clean air and water, carbon sequestration, reduced risks of disasters and outdoor recreational opportunities that sustain mental health—are sometimes regarded as free, but ecosystem degradation incurs costs for tapping alternative resources, disaster relief and reconstruction, and to health budgets.

"All of the world's ecosystems show hallmarks of human influence, and many are under acute risks of collapse, with consequences for habitats of species, genetic diversity, ecosystem services, sustainable development and human well-being.

"The global ecosystem typology describes the diversity of tropical forests, big rivers, coral reefs and other ecosystems that have typically been the focus of public attention. But it also includes little-known ecosystems of deep ocean trenches, seamounts, lakes beneath the ice sheets and microscopic ecosystems within rocks.

"'We don't think often about what's in the deep oceans, for example," said Professor Keith. "There's a tremendous variety of life down there and it's organized into a number of different ecosystems. And those ecosystems are beginning to feel the impact of human expansion.

"'The deep trenches in the ocean are filling up with microplastics, and we're starting to look at mining volcanic vents for minerals. We need to make decisions about those kinds of environments, just as we do about coral reefs and rainforests.'"

Comment: The importance of ecosystems is not debated. What they mean is a living space for all and food for all. If the bush of life had not been developed, a linear development would not have survived. Broad ecosystems were an absolute requirement to prepare for the human arrival and dominance.