Burdon, Francis
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Other publication in scientific journal2021Peer reviewed
Understanding the connectivity of ecosystems in the Anthropocene
Burdon, Francis J.
Abstract
In focus: Nash, L. N., Antiqueira, P. A. P., Romero, G. Q., de Omena, P. M., and Kratina, P. (2021). Warming of aquatic ecosystems disrupts aquatic-terrestrial linkages in the tropics. Journal of Animal Ecology. Meta-ecosystem ecology offers a holistic framework linking populations, communities and ecosystems in heterogeneous landscapes. This perspective is particularly relevant as anthropogenic drivers of environmental change proliferate, with the potential for impacts to propagate to spatially connected habitats. In aquatic ecosystems, reciprocal exchanges of energy, materials and organisms that form strong connections with adjacent terrestrial habitats can be disrupted by human impacts. Nash et al. (2021) demonstrate how a warming environment alters aquatic-terrestrial linkages by measuring rates of aquatic insect emergence and decomposition in a tropical context. While decomposition predictably increased with warming, insect emergence was greatly reduced. Using metabolic theory, I highlight how these results deviate from previous studies and help underscore the need for comparative research in different biomes. I conclude by exploring where progress can be made in quantifying, predicting and utilising the connectivity of ecosystems to fully realise the potential of a meta-ecosystem perspective and help address the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.
Keywords
aquatic insects; aquatic-terrestrial linkages; climate change; decomposition; emergence; metabolic theory; meta-ecosystem; warming
Published in
Journal of Animal Ecology
2021, volume: 90, number: 7, pages: 1600-1604
Publisher: WILEY
SLU Authors
Global goals (SDG)
SDG13 Climate action
SDG15 Life on land
UKÄ Subject classification
Ecology
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13550
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/113100