Institution
Office of Environment and Heritage
About: Office of Environment and Heritage is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Climate change. The organization has 352 authors who have published 790 publications receiving 22164 citations.
Topics: Population, Climate change, Threatened species, Biodiversity, Vegetation
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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University of Lisbon1, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation2, Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment3, California Institute of Technology4, Wageningen University and Research Centre5, Cardiff University6, American Museum of Natural History7, BirdLife International8, University of British Columbia9, Food and Agriculture Organization10, Australian Museum11, Leibniz Association12, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds13, University of Maryland, College Park14, Yale University15, Stanford University16, Monash University17, Kyoto University18, Zoological Society of London19, United States Geological Survey20, United Nations Environment Programme21, University of Sussex22, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources23, Office of Environment and Heritage24
TL;DR: With the first plenary meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) soon under way, partners are developing—and seeking consensus around—Essential Biod diversity Variables (EBVs) that could form the basis of monitoring programs worldwide.
Abstract: Reducing the rate of biodiversity loss and averting dangerous biodiversity change are international goals, reasserted by the Aichi Targets for 2020 by Parties to the United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) after failure to meet the 2010 target (1, 2). However, there is no global, harmonized observation system for delivering regular, timely data on biodiversity change (3). With the first plenary meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) soon under way, partners from the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) (4) are developing—and seeking consensus around—Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) that could form the basis of monitoring programs worldwide.
1,074 citations
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King Juan Carlos University1, University of Vermont2, Pablo de Olavide University3, Technical University of Madrid4, Northern Arizona University5, University of La Serena6, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica7, Universidad Simón Rodríguez8, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev9, State University of Feira de Santana10, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja11, University of Sfax12, University of New South Wales13, Central University of Venezuela14, National University of San Juan15, University of the Bío Bío16, Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment17, Ohio State University18, National Agrarian University19, National University of La Pampa20, University of New England (Australia)21, Office of Environment and Heritage22, Spanish National Research Council23, Northeast Normal University24, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center25
TL;DR: A global empirical study relating plant species richness and abiotic factors to multifunctionality in drylands, which collectively cover 41% of Earth’s land surface and support over 38% of the human population, suggests that the preservation of plant biodiversity is crucial to buffer negative effects of climate change and desertification in dryland.
Abstract: Experiments suggest that biodiversity enhances the ability of ecosystems to maintain multiple functions, such as carbon storage, productivity, and the buildup of nutrient pools (multifunctionality). However, the relationship between biodiversity and multifunctionality has never been assessed globally in natural ecosystems. We report here on a global empirical study relating plant species richness and abiotic factors to multifunctionality in drylands, which collectively cover 41% of Earth’s land surface and support over 38% of the human population. Multifunctionality was positively and significantly related to species richness. The best-fitting models accounted for over 55% of the variation in multifunctionality and always included species richness as a predictor variable. Our results suggest that the preservation of plant biodiversity is crucial to buffer negative effects of climate change and desertification in drylands.
941 citations
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Pablo de Olavide University1, King Juan Carlos University2, Northern Arizona University3, Colorado State University4, University of Córdoba (Spain)5, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica6, University of La Serena7, University of Jaén8, University of Sfax9, State University of Feira de Santana10, University of New South Wales11, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja12, National University of San Juan13, University of the Bío Bío14, Central University of Venezuela15, National University of La Pampa16, Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment17, Northeast Normal University18, Ohio State University19, Université du Québec à Montréal20, International Potato Center21, University of New England (Australia)22, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado23, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center24, Office of Environment and Heritage25
TL;DR: Any predicted increase in aridity with climate change will probably reduce the concentrations of N and C in global drylands, but increase that of P, suggesting the provision of key services provided by these ecosystems could be negatively affected.
Abstract: The biogeochemical cycles of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are interlinked by primary production, respiration and decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems. It has been suggested that the C, N and P cycles could become uncoupled under rapid climate change because of the different degrees of control exerted on the supply of these elements by biological and geochemical processes. Climatic controls on biogeochemical cycles are particularly relevant in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid ecosystems (drylands) because their biological activity is mainly driven by water availability. The increase in aridity predicted for the twenty-first century in many drylands worldwide may therefore threaten the balance between these cycles, differentially affecting the availability of essential nutrients. Here we evaluate how aridity affects the balance between C, N and P in soils collected from 224 dryland sites from all continents except Antarctica. We find a negative effect of aridity on the concentration of soil organic C and total N, but a positive effect on the concentration of inorganic P. Aridity is negatively related to plant cover, which may favour the dominance of physical processes such as rock weathering, a major source of P to ecosystems, over biological processes that provide more C and N, such as litter decomposition. Our findings suggest that any predicted increase in aridity with climate change will probably reduce the concentrations of N and C in global drylands, but increase that of P. These changes would uncouple the C, N and P cycles in drylands and could negatively affect the provision of key services provided by these ecosystems.
667 citations
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TL;DR: The results from municipal waste samples and soil samples collected from an industrial area demonstrated that the PFE method is a promising alternative for determining the concentration and identity of microplastics in environmental samples.
Abstract: A method based on pressurized fluid extraction (PFE) was developed for measuring microplastics in environmental samples This method can address some limitations of the current microplastic methods and provide laboratories with a simple analytical method for quantifying common microplastics in a range of environmental samples The method was initially developed by recovering 101% to 111% of spiked plastics on glass beads and was then applied to a composted municipal waste sample with spike recoveries ranging from 85% to 94% The results from municipal waste samples and soil samples collected from an industrial area demonstrated that the method is a promising alternative for determining the concentration and identity of microplastics in environmental samples
625 citations
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University of New South Wales1, Office of Environment and Heritage2, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research3, University of Melbourne4, Finnish Environment Institute5, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute6, EcoHealth Alliance7, Royal Botanic Gardens8, University of Salento9, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources10, Macquarie University11, NatureServe12, University of Vienna13, Environment Agency14, Flinders University15, Landcare Research16, University of Idaho17, Deakin University18, Monash University19, Federal Agency for Nature Conservation20, University of Cambridge21
TL;DR: A new conceptual model for ecosystem risk assessment founded on a synthesis of relevant ecological theories is presented, providing a consistent, practical and theoretically grounded framework for establishing a systematic Red List of the world’s ecosystems.
Abstract: An understanding of risks to biodiversity is needed for planning action to slow current rates of decline and secure ecosystem services for future human use. Although the IUCN Red List criteria provide an effective assessment protocol for species, a standard global assessment of risks to higher levels of biodiversity is currently limited. In 2008, IUCN initiated development of risk assessment criteria to support a global Red List of ecosystems. We present a new conceptual model for ecosystem risk assessment founded on a synthesis of relevant ecological theories. To support the model, we review key elements of ecosystem definition and introduce the concept of ecosystem collapse, an analogue of species extinction. The model identifies four distributional and functional symptoms of ecosystem risk as a basis for assessment criteria: A) rates of decline in ecosystem distribution; B) restricted distributions with continuing declines or threats; C) rates of environmental (abiotic) degradation; and D) rates of disruption to biotic processes. A fifth criterion, E) quantitative estimates of the risk of ecosystem collapse, enables integrated assessment of multiple processes and provides a conceptual anchor for the other criteria. We present the theoretical rationale for the construction and interpretation of each criterion. The assessment protocol and threat categories mirror those of the IUCN Red List of species. A trial of the protocol on terrestrial, subterranean, freshwater and marine ecosystems from around the world shows that its concepts are workable and its outcomes are robust, that required data are available, and that results are consistent with assessments carried out by local experts and authorities. The new protocol provides a consistent, practical and theoretically grounded framework for establishing a systematic Red List of the world’s ecosystems. This will complement the Red List of species and strengthen global capacity to report on and monitor the status of biodiversity
491 citations
Authors
Showing all 352 results
Name | H-index | Papers | Citations |
---|---|---|---|
David J. Hunter | 213 | 1836 | 207050 |
Peter Davies | 69 | 492 | 21301 |
David A. Keith | 60 | 284 | 12953 |
Daniel Lunney | 40 | 229 | 5420 |
Neil Saintilan | 40 | 167 | 5930 |
Tony D. Auld | 37 | 107 | 4510 |
Chris J Watson | 36 | 142 | 4047 |
Kerrylee Rogers | 34 | 103 | 4170 |
Ian Oliver | 33 | 171 | 5637 |
Bruce C. Chessman | 33 | 77 | 3315 |
Andrew W. Claridge | 31 | 88 | 2586 |
Michael G. Hughes | 30 | 85 | 3281 |
Eren Turak | 30 | 56 | 3725 |
Brian Wilson | 29 | 96 | 2180 |
John Leys | 27 | 61 | 2539 |