Anthromes
•Download as PPTX, PDF•
2 likes•1,012 views
This document proposes a new framework called "anthropogenic biomes" to classify and map global ecological patterns based on human interactions with landscapes rather than just climate. It suggests that ecosystem processes in anthropogenic biomes are primarily a function of human populations and land use, not just climate. The framework identifies 26 different anthropogenic biomes defined by population density, land use, land cover, and other factors. This new approach presents a more realistic picture of the biosphere as intertwined with human systems, with implications for ecology research and education.
Recommended
More Related Content
What's hot
What's hot (20)
Viewers also liked
Viewers also liked (20)
Similar to Anthromes
Similar to Anthromes (20)
More from Michael Newbold
More from Michael Newbold (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (16)
Anthromes
- 1. Anthropogenic Biomes A 21st century framework for ecology & the earth sciences Erle C. Ellis Navin Ramankutty Department of Geography & Environmental Systems University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250 Department of Geography & Earth System Science Program McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2K6, Canada
- 2. Humans now shape ecological pattern and process across most of the terrestrial biosphere. “Nature” is embedded within human systems. Ecology needs to move beyond human footprints, impacts & domination.
- 3. Anthropogenic Biomes • Why care about Biomes? • Why do we need Anthropogenic Biomes? – A missing persons detective story • How to identify & map the biomes – An empirical approach • Anthropogenic Biomes of the World • The way forward…. – A new model for ecological research & education Overview
- 4. On Biomes… • Biomes describe global patterns of species composition and ecological processes – Basic units in the ecological hierarchy… • Identified as a function of Climate, moderated by Altitude (conventionally) • Basic units for global ecosystem models – IGBP (17 classes; International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme) • Core units in ecoregion analysis of biodiversity – Olson “global 200” (16 biomes, 200 ecoregions)
- 5. Why Anthropogenic Biomes? • Humans control biodiversity & ecosystem processes as much as climate. • Global biome maps are not realistic. – Much of biome area does not even exist (potential vegetation). – At most includes urban & agriculture (& agriculture+tree mosaic). • Conventional, climate-based biomes are not static anyway: – Anthropogenic climate change is altering biome location & composition. • Biomes derived from global patterns of human interaction with landscapes may be a stronger model of global ecological patterns & processes. Grazing Agriculture Urbanization Deforestation Habitat Fragmentation etc…
- 6. Conventional Biomes ecosystem processes are a function of macroclimate (latitude, altitude, circulation) Ecosystem processes = f(C) C = Climate (precipitation & temperature)
- 7. A Working Hypothesis: ecosystem processes in anthropogenic biomes are primarily a function of human populations and their ecosystem interactions (land use) Ecosystem processes = f(P,T) (in anthropogenic biomes) P = Population density T = Land use (how land & resources are used) Anthropogenic Biomes
- 8. Anthropogenic Biomes of the World Urban & dense settlements 11 Urban 12 Dense settlements Villages 21 Rice villages 22 Irrigated villages 23 Cropped & pastoral villages 24 Pastoral villages 25 Rainfed villages 26 Rainfed mosaic villages *Mosaic: >25% tree cover mixed with > 25% pasture and/or cropland Croplands 31 Residential irrigated cropland 32 Residential rainfed mosaic 33 Populated irrigated cropland 34 Populated rainfed cropland 35 Remote croplands Rangelands 41 Residential rangelands 42 Populated rangelands 43 Remote rangelands Wildlands 61 Wild forests 62 Sparse trees 63 Barren Forested 51 Populated forests 52 Remote forests * Ellis & Ramankutty, in press
- 9. Croplands Atlas Mountains, Morocco Wildlands Alaska, USA Credit: © BigFoto. < http://www.bigfoto.com/sites/galery/nature1/natur015.jpg >
- 10. Populated Forest Koh Samai, Thailand Credit: © Yenit Company Ltd. <http://www.kohsamui.org/seaview.jpg>
- 11. Croplands Atlas Mountains, Morocco Remote Rangelands South Dakota, USA Credit: © Alexander Smart. <http://ars.sdstate.edu/faculty/smarta/Range415/Image035.jpg>
- 12. Populated Rangelands Atlas Mountains, Morocco
- 13. Remote Croplands Colombia Basin, Washington, USA Credit: © GWMA <http://www.gwma.org/images/CroplandAdjusted.jpg>
- 14. Croplands - Residential Rainfed Mosaic Normandy, France Credit: © JH.Bernard. <http://pagesperso-orange.fr/rmc14/images/IMAGES-RMC/RMC-6.JPG>
- 15. Anthropogenic Biomes of the World Rice villages Irrigated villages Cropped & pastoral villages Pastoral villages Rainfed villages Rainfed mosaic villages Ellis & Ramankutty, in press Village Biomes
- 16. Villages Jintang County, Sichuan Province, China
- 17. Rice Villages Danyang County, Jiangsu Province, China
- 18. Urban Manhattan, New York, USA Credit: © Josh <http://picasaweb.google.com/jiltdotorg/NewYorkCity/photo#5129550626737389474>
- 20. Anthropogenic Biomes of the World Urban & dense settlements 11 Urban 12 Dense settlements Villages 21 Rice villages 22 Irrigated villages 23 Cropped & pastoral villages 24 Pastoral villages 25 Rainfed villages 26 Rainfed mosaic villages *Mosaic: >25% tree cover mixed with > 25% pasture and/or cropland Croplands 31 Residential irrigated cropland 32 Residential rainfed mosaic 33 Populated irrigated cropland 34 Populated rainfed cropland 35 Remote croplands Rangelands 41 Residential rangelands 42 Populated rangelands 43 Remote rangelands Wildlands 61 Wild forests 62 Sparse trees 63 Barren Forested 51 Populated forests 52 Remote forests * Ellis & Ramankutty, in press
- 21. Anthropogenic biomes A new framework for ecology • Only 22% of land and 11% of NPP are wild • Nature is now embedded within human systems – It is no longer possible to conserve nature by avoiding human interactions • Human interactions with the biosphere go far beyond a single dimension of impact or domination. • Beyond the “urban + agriculture + wild” model – Forests, rangelands & croplands include people! – A wide range of population interactions.
- 22. Wildlands Forested Rangelands Croplands Villages Dense settlements builtup ornamental rainfed crops pastureforestry Population density Biodiversity Land use Land cover bare trees native introduced herbaceous NPP Carbon emissions Reactive Nitrogen + - irrigated Anthropogenic Biomes: Conceptual Model Wildlands Urban & denseForestedRangelands VillagesCroplands Ellis & Ramankutty, in press
- 23. Anthropogenic Biomes Results Anthropogenic Biomes are Mosaics – Anthropogenic landscapes are heterogeneous mixtures of different land use and land cover classes. – Urban areas are embedded in agricultural areas. – Trees mixed with croplands and housing. – Managed vegetation is mixed with semi-natural vegetation (e.g. croplands in rangelands and forests). – Hillslopes & mountains are often islands of semi-natural vegetation
- 26. A better story… “Human systems, with natural ecosystems embedded within them”. We own the biosphere: we have altered it irreversibly. Now we control its future. The old biosphere story… “Natural ecosystems with humans disturbing them”. Anthropogenic biomes A n e w f r a m e w o r k f o r e d u c a t i o n