The Added Complications of Climate Change: Understanding and Managing Biodiversity and Ecosystems

Allison K Leidner, Jennifer Howard, Kate A Brauman, Jeffrey S Dukes, Craig Paukert, John Sabo, Luis A Solórzano

Posted on: 11/06/2013 - Updated on: 3/06/2020

Photo attributed to Jerzy Strzelecki. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. No endorsement implied.

Posted by

Rachel Gregg

Published

2013-11

Abstract

Ecosystems around the world are already threatened by land-use and land-cover change, extraction of natural resources, biological disturbances, and pollution. These environmental stressors have been the primary source of ecosystem degradation to date, and climate change is now exacerbating some of their effects. Ecosystems already under stress are likely to have more rapid and acute reactions to climate change; it is therefore useful to understand how multiple stresses will interact, especially as the magnitude of climate change increases. Understanding these interactions could be critically important in the design of climate adaptation strategies, especially because actions taken by other sectors (eg energy, agriculture, transportation) to address climate change may create new ecosystem stresses.

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Affiliated Organizations

National Wildlife Federation

The National Wildlife Federation is America's largest conservation organization, with more than 6 million members supporters and an affiliate network in 52 states and territories. The National Wildlife Federation’s mission is to “unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

AAAS

The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science for the benefit of all people.

EcoAdapt

EcoAdapt is at the center of climate change adaptation innovation. We provide support, training, and assistance to make conservation and management less vulnerable and more Climate Savvy. Over the past 200 years, great strides have been made in the world of conservation and now all of that is at risk because of climate change. EcoAdapt is working to ensure the success of these past efforts by delivering a framework for climate adaptation.

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

We believe in bold ideas that create enduring impact in the areas of environmental conservation, patient care and science. Gordon and Betty Moore established the foundation to create this change around the world and at home in the San Francisco Bay Area.