DOCSLIB.ORG

Shifted Energy Fluxes, Increased Bowen Ratios

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Shifted Energy Fluxes, Increased Bowen Ratios The Cryosphere, 11, 2975–2996, 2017 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2975-2017 © Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Shifted energy fluxes, increased Bowen ratios, and reduced thaw depths linked with drainage-induced changes in permafrost ecosystem structure Mathias Göckede1, Fanny Kittler1, Min Jung Kwon1,a, Ina Burjack1, Martin Heimann1,2, Olaf Kolle1, Nikita Zimov3, and Sergey Zimov3 1Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany 2Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland 3North-East Science Station, Pacific Institute for Geography, Far-Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Chersky, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russia anow at: Division of Polar Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, Republic of Korea Correspondence: Mathias Göckede ([email protected]) Received: 12 September 2016 – Discussion started: 25 October 2016 Revised: 27 September 2017 – Accepted: 23 October 2017 – Published: 15 December 2017 Abstract. Hydrologic conditions are a key factor in Arc- 1 Introduction tic ecosystems, with strong influences on ecosystem struc- ture and related effects on biogeophysical and biogeochemi- The current state and future evolution of Arctic permafrost, cal processes. With systematic changes in water availability particularly its interactions with the atmosphere, are among expected for large parts of the northern high-latitude region the largest uncertainties in our understanding of the Earth’s in the coming centuries, knowledge on shifts in ecosystem climate system (Schuur and Abbott, 2011; Stocker et al., functionality triggered by altered water levels is crucial for 2013). The Arctic is one of the most susceptible regions on reducing uncertainties in climate change predictions. Here, Earth to climate change (e.g., Serreze et al., 2000; Polyakov we present findings from paired ecosystem observations in et al., 2003; Fyfe et al., 2013; Pithan and Mauritsen, 2014), northeast Siberia comprising a drained and a control site. At and altered climate conditions may have enormous con- the drainage site, the water table has been artificially low- sequences for the sustainability of its natural environment ered by up to 30 cm in summer for more than a decade. This (Schuur et al., 2008; Arneth et al., 2010). Interactions be- sustained primary disturbance in hydrologic conditions has tween permafrost, climate, hydrology, and ecology have the triggered a suite of secondary shifts in ecosystem proper- potential to cause dramatic changes (e.g., McGuire et al., ties, including vegetation community structure, snow cover 2002; Hinzman et al., 2005) via mechanisms that are cur- dynamics, and radiation budget, all of which influence the rently poorly monitored and therefore highly unpredictable net effects of drainage. Reduced thermal conductivity in dry (Heimann and Reichstein, 2008; van Huissteden and Dol- organic soils was identified as the dominating drainage ef- man, 2012; Rawlins et al., 2015). The associated changes in fect on energy budget and soil thermal regime. Through this the energy transfer between surface and atmosphere (Eugster effect, reduced heat transfer into deeper soil layers leads to et al., 2000; Langer et al., 2011a, b) and the emission pat- shallower thaw depths, initially leading to a stabilization of terns of greenhouse gases (Koven et al., 2011) raise the need organic permafrost soils, while the long-term effects on per- for experimental studies in this region that address the key mafrost temperature trends still need to be assessed. At the uncertainties linked to the functioning of the Arctic in the same time, more energy is transferred back into the atmo- Earth’s climate system (Semiletov et al., 2012). sphere as sensible heat in the drained area, which may trigger Hydrologic conditions play a pivotal role in shaping Arctic a warming of the lower atmospheric surface layer. ecosystems. Lakes and rivers in the permafrost region repre- sent an important portion of regional net carbon exchange Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. 2976 M. Göckede et al.: Drainage-induced changes in permafrost ecosystems with the atmosphere, but net emissions over different spa- and found no systematic short-term shifts immediately fol- tiotemporal scales remain highly uncertain to date (Walter- lowing a drainage disturbance (Merbold et al., 2009). Anthony et al., 2014; Rasilo et al., 2015). Moreover, the vast Our study presents observational evidence of shifts in carbon pool in northern permafrost regions, currently esti- ecosystem properties and energy fluxes within a wet tussock mated at 1330–1580 Pg of organic carbon (Schuur et al., tundra ecosystem in northeast Siberia following a decade- 2015), has accumulated over past millennia since a combi- long drainage disturbance, providing insight into the sustain- nation of low mean temperatures and anoxic conditions in ability of ice-rich permafrost under future climate change. As areas with flooded or water-saturated soils slowed down the a first major objective, we used paired observations within decomposition of organic matter (e.g., Ping et al., 2008). In a drainage area and a control area to quantify several sec- addition to warming, shifts in the water balance in this re- ondary disturbance effects linked to lower water tables, in- gion are expected to trigger profound changes in the per- cluding changes in vegetation community, radiation budget, mafrost carbon cycle (e.g., Chapin et al., 2005; Oberbauer and soil thermal regime over longer time frames. Our sec- et al., 2007). Hydrology can vary at small spatial scales and ond objective was to link these shifts in ecosystem proper- thus create fine-scale mosaics in surface conditions (Muster ties to year-round eddy-covariance measurements of energy- et al., 2012, 2013). Even minor differences in mean water exchange patterns between permafrost ecosystem and atmo- levels can impose strong effects on vegetation and microbial sphere, and to evaluate potential feedback effects on Arctic community structures or soil thermal regimes (Zona et al., warming. Finally, links between heat transfer into deeper lay- 2011a). It can thus be expected that flooding or draining a ers and summertime thaw depth dynamics were investigated. site will initiate profound shifts in ecosystem structure, and that the long-term impacts of the disturbance will look very different than the short-term changes that can be observed 2 Methods immediately after the event (e.g., Shaver et al., 1992). 2.1 Study site and drainage experiment Future shifts in hydrologic conditions in the Arctic can be triggered by altered precipitation patterns, where a gen- Our field experiments were conducted on a wet tussock tun- eral trend towards increased rainfall is predicted (Kattsov and dra site within the floodplain of the Kolyma River (68.61◦ N, Walsh, 2000); however, patterns will vary strongly by region 161.35◦ E), approximately 15 km south of the town of Cher- (Huntington, 2006; Bintanja and Selten, 2014); therefore, for sky in northeast Siberia. The area was formed by a relatively some areas also lower precipitation can be expected. Geo- recent shift of the main channel of the Kolyma (Corradi et al., morphological processes such as subsidence (Jorgenson et 2005); therefore the terrain is flat and no thermokarst lakes or al., 2006; O’Donnell et al., 2012) as well as the formation of natural drainage channels have yet formed in the vicinity of a system of connected troughs through the preferential degra- the observation sites. Still, the existing minor differences in dation of ice wedges in ice-rich permafrost (Serreze et al., terrain height have led to the formation of a fine-scale mosaic 2000; Liljedahl et al., 2016) can lead to a lateral redistribu- in micro-site conditions (Fig. 1), mostly triggered by redis- tion of water, and thus can create both wetter and drier micro- tribution of water from slightly elevated areas towards the sites within a formerly uniform ecosystem. Also, a deepen- minor depressions. ing of the active layer can trigger reductions in waterlogged Site hydrology is strongly influenced by a flooding period conditions and wetland extent in permafrost regions (Avis et in spring caused by melting of the local snow cover as well al., 2011). In-depth insight into the net effect resulting from as a northward moving dam of ice floes on the main channel long-term changes in hydrology therefore forms a key chal- of the Kolyma that delays melt water runoff. Depending on lenge for improved future predictions of biogeochemical cy- the timing of snowmelt in the tributary watersheds, this pro- cles in Arctic ecosystems (e.g., Lupascu et al., 2014). cess leads to standing water on the site (up to 50 cm above Over the past two decades, several studies have docu- ground level) in most years around late May to early June. mented the effect of an experimental manipulation of soil After the flood has mostly receded, stagnant water remains hydrologic conditions on biogeochemical cycles in Arctic in large parts of the area that only gradually decreases over ecosystems (e.g., Oechel et al., 1998; Olivas et al., 2010; Na- the course of the growing season. tali et al., 2015). Only a few of these studies examined long- Soils consist of an organic layer of 15–20 cm overlaying term effects of manipulated water tables (e.g., Christiansen alluvial mineral soils (silty clay), with some organic material et al., 2012; Lupascu et al., 2014; Kittler et al., 2016), and also present in deeper layers following cryoturbation. More none of them explicitly addressed the net impact of hydro- information on site climatology (Sect. 3.1), spatiotemporal logic disturbance on the energy budget; only shifts in thaw patterns in hydrology (Sect. 3.2), and vegetation character- depth (Zona et al., 2011a; Kim, 2015) and indirect effects of istics (Sect. 3.3) can be found in the Results section. Fur- heat fluxes on the carbon cycle (Turetsky et al., 2008) were ther details on the study site are presented by Corradi et reported.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Effects of Large Herbivore Grazing on Relics of the Presumed Mammoth
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Efects of large herbivore grazing on relics of the presumed mammoth steppe in the extreme climate of NE‑Siberia Jennifer Reinecke1,2*, Kseniia Ashastina3,4, Frank Kienast3, Elena Troeva5 & Karsten Wesche1,2,6 The Siberian mammoth steppe ecosystem changed dramatically with the disappearance of large grazers in the Holocene. The concept of Pleistocene rewilding is based on the idea that large herbivore grazing signifcantly alters plant communities and can be employed to recreate lost ecosystems. On the other hand, modern rangeland ecology emphasizes the often overriding importance of harsh climates. We visited two rewilding projects and three rangeland regions, sampling a total of 210 vegetation relevés in steppe and surrounding vegetation (grasslands, shrublands and forests) along an extensive climatic gradient across Yakutia, Russia. We analyzed species composition, plant traits, diversity indices and vegetation productivity, using partial canonical correspondence and redundancy analysis. Macroclimate was most important for vegetation composition, and microclimate for the occurrence of extrazonal steppes. Macroclimate and soil conditions mainly determined productivity of vegetation. Bison grazing was responsible for small‑scale changes in vegetation through trampling, wallowing and debarking, thus creating more open and disturbed plant communities, soil compaction and xerophytization. However, the magnitude of efects depended on density and type of grazers as well as on interactions with climate and site conditions. Efects of bison grazing were strongest in the continental climate of Central Yakutia, and steppes were generally less afected than meadows. We conclude that contemporary grazing overall has rather limited efects on vegetation in northeastern Siberia. Current rewilding practices are still far from recreating a mammoth steppe, although large herbivores like bison can create more open and drier vegetation and increase nutrient availability in particular in the more continental Central Yakutian Plain.
    [Show full text]
  • Songs of the Kolyma Tundra
    ‘Songs of the Kolyma Tundra’ – Co-Production and Perpetuation of Knowledge Concerning Ecology and Weather in the Indigenous Communities of Nizhnikolyma, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russian Federation Tero Mustonen (1), Viatcheslav Shadrin (2), Kaisu Mustonen (1), Vladimir Vasiliev (3) together with the community representatives from Kolumskaya, Cherski, Andrejuskino, Podhovsk and the nomadic communities of Nutendli and Turvaurgin in the Niznikolyma region, Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, Russian Federation (1) Snowchange Cooperative / University of Joensuu (2) Institute of the Indigenous Peoples of the North (3) Northern Forum Academy Contact Information: Tero Mustonen, Snowchange Cooperative Havukkavaarantie 29 FIN 8125 Lehtoi Finland Email: [email protected] www.snowchange.org Abstract This article highlights community-based observations of climate and weather related changes in Indigenous communities of Niznikolyma or Lower Kolyma Region, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russian Federation along with local efforts to preserve traditional knowledge through a nomadic school, in part as an adaptive mechanism. The observations have been collected using a method of co-production of knowledge, which allows the local Indigenous peoples to participate in a meaningful way in research that involves and affects them. In the past four years, the Snowchange Cooperative based in Finland, in cooperation with the Institute of the Indigenous Peoples of the North and Northern Forum Academy based in Yakutsk, has conducted field research in the region to document and assess observations of rapid changes to weather, ecosystems, and human societies of North-East Siberia. Thawing of the continuous permafrost, disappearance of fishing lakes, and increased flooding and erosion are some of the observed changes impacting the region and its inhabitants.
    [Show full text]
  • In This Issue
    No. 41 Spring/Summer 2006 In this Issue: • Climate Change Stories from the Russian Arctic • Studying the Impacts of a Chinese Chemical Spill in Bolonsky Zapovednik • Abkhazia's Ritsinsky Relict National Park • Avian Flu: Russian Policies Raise Concerns PROMOTING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN RUSSIA AND THROUGHOUT NORTHERN EURASIA CONTENTS CONTENTS Voice from the Wild ECOLOGICAL TOURISM (A Letter from the Editors)........................................................1 Encouraging Whale Watching and Marine PROTECTED AREAS Ecotourism in Russia...................................................................15 Bolonsky Zapovednik Studying the Impacts The Great Baikal Trai........................………………………………....18 of a Chinese Chemical Spill ................................………………...2 FOR DISCUSSION Developing and Regulating Tourism: Striking a Delicate Balance in Abkhazia's Avian Flu: Russian Official Ritsinsky Relict National Park.............................……………….5 Policies Raise Concerns................………….………………………..21 ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEMS CONSERVATION HISTORY Pleistocene Park: Return of the Reflections on the Social History Mammoth's Ecosystem.................................................................8 of Pechoro-Ilychsky Zapovednik...........…………………….25 Coastal Dwellers on Russia's ABSTRACTS IN RUSSIAN...............................................29 Chukotka Peninsula Report the Effects of Climate Change...........................12 CONSERVATION CONTACTS..............Back Cover Russian Conservation News is produced with
    [Show full text]
  • Rewilding John Carey, Science Writer
    CORE CONCEPTS CORE CONCEPTS Rewilding John Carey, Science Writer America’s vast forests and plains, Siberia’s tundra, or Such a restoration would bring back vital but lost Romania’s Carpathian Mountains may seem wild and ecological processes and benefits, Martin and others full of life. But they’re all missing something big: the large came to believe. Without mammoths and millions of animals that vanished by the end of the Pleistocene Ep- aurochs and other grazers (and wolves and big cats to och, roughly 10,000 years ago. In the United States, only keep the herbivores in check), the enormously pro- bones and echoing footsteps remain of the mammoths, ductive grasslands of the Pleistocene turned into camels, massive armadillo-like glyptodonts, lions, dire today’s far less productive forest, shrub land, and wolves, and saber-toothed cats that roamed for millennia. mossy tundra, with a major loss of ecosystem com- “Without knowing it, Americans live in a land of ghosts,” plexity and diversity. “Paul realized there was a big wrote the late University of Arizona scientist Paul Martin missing ecosystem component—the megafauna,” ex- in his 2005 book, Twilight of the Mammoths: Ice Age plains Harry Greene, professor of ecology and evolu- Extinctions and the Rewilding of America (1). tionary biology at Cornell. “Everything in North Some scientists and others now argue that we America evolved with about 58 to 60 big mammals should be bringing some of those ghosts back, part of that went extinct.” a controversial movement to “rewild” parts of Europe That realization sparked a growing effort to recre- and North America, whether by reintroducing extant ate the lost past, especially in Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • Global Methane Emissions from Wetlands, Rice Paddies, and Lakes
    Portland State University PDXScholar Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations Physics 2-3-2009 Global Methane Emissions From Wetlands, Rice Paddies, and Lakes Qianlai Zhuang Purdue University John M. Melack University of California, Santa Barbara Sergey Zimov North-East Science Station, Cherski Katey Marion Walter University of Alaska, Fairbanks Christopher Lee Butenhoff Portland State University See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/phy_fac Part of the Physics Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Citation Details Zhuang, Q., J. M. Melack, S. Zimov, K. M. Walter, C. L. Butenhoff, and M. A. K. Khalil (2009), Global Methan Emissions From Wetlands, Rice Paddies, and Lakes, Eos Trans. AGU, 90(5), 37, doi:10.1029/ 2009EO050001. This Article is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. Authors Qianlai Zhuang, John M. Melack, Sergey Zimov, Katey Marion Walter, Christopher Lee Butenhoff, and M. A. K. Khalil This article is available at PDXScholar: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/phy_fac/5 Eos, Vol. 90, No. 5, 3 February 2009 VOLUME 90 NUMBER 5 3 FEBRUARY 2009 EOS, TRANSACTIONS, AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION PAGES 37–44 accurately quantify global methane emis- Global Methane Emissions From sions with these models [e.g., Dlugokencky et al., 2003]. Instrumentation for monitoring methane fluxes and concentrations should Wetlands, Rice Paddies, and Lakes be a priority.
    [Show full text]
  • Rewilding and the Cultural Landscape
    Not lawn, nor pasture, mead: INVITATION Not lawn, nor pasture, nor mead: Rewilding and the Cultural Landscape Rewilding and the Cultural Landscape Andrea Rae Gammon Include that there will be a reception in the Aula following the defense. Paranymhps: Mira Vegter Andrea Rae Gammon [email protected] & Jochem Zwier [email protected] Not Lawn, Nor Pasture, Nor Mead: Rewilding and the Cultural Landscape gammon-layout.indd 1 13/01/2018 15:28 On the cover: Treelines (2009) by Robert Hite. Used with the generous permission of the artist. ISBN 978-94-6295-843-2 © 2017, Andrea Rae Gammon Printing, layout and cover design by ProefschriftMaken | Proefschriftmaken.nl gammon-layout.indd 2 13/01/2018 15:28 Not Lawn, Nor Pasture, Nor Mead: Rewilding and the Cultural Landscape PROEFSCHRIFT ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan de Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen op gezag van de rector magnificus prof. dr. J.H.J.M. van Krieken, volgens besluit van het college van decanen in het openbaar te verdedigen op maandag 19 februari 2018 om 12.30 uur precies door Andrea Rae Gammon geboren op 11 augustus 1985 te Portland, Maine, Verenigde Staten van Amerika gammon-layout.indd 3 13/01/2018 15:28 Promotoren Prof. dr. H.A.E. Zwart Prof. dr. F.W.J. Keulartz Copromotor Dr. M.A.M. Drenthen Manuscriptcommissie Prof. dr. J. P. Wils (voorzitter) Prof. dr. P.J.H. Kockelkoren (Universiteit Twente) Dr. E. Peeren (Universiteit van Amsterdam) gammon-layout.indd 4 13/01/2018 15:28 Here was no man’s garden, but the unhandselled globe.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Report for Team 15.Py.Pdf
    Pleistocene Park Simulations Simulating Pleistocene Park New Mexico Supercomputing Challenge Final Report April 11th, 2021 Team 15 Monte del Sol Charter School Team Members: Brooklynn Martinez Isabella Martinez Kaley Martinez Project Mentors: Charles Strauss Joann Mudge Pleistocene Park Simulations Table of Contents Executive Summary…………………………………………………………………....3 Research and Context…………………………………………………………...…….4-5 Solving the Problem……………………………………………………………..……5-6 Results ………………………………………………………………………….…….6-9 In the Future……………………………………………………………………….…..9 Conclusion and Acknowledgments ………………………………………………..…10 References…………………………………………………………………………….11 Appendix A…………………………………………………………………….……..12-18 Appendix B……………………………………………………………………...…….19 Appendix C…………………………………………………………………..……….20-21 Pleistocene Park Simulations Executive summary: Climate change: a global phenomenon caused by an increase of carbon in our atmosphere that causes the Earth’s climate to change. In Siberia, a project founded by Sergey Zimov, called the Pleistocene Park, works with megafauna in order to develop, reverse and prevent the permafrost currently melting in the Arctic. During the Pleistocene Period, megafauna such as mammoths existed and inhabited the environment there. The Pleistocene Project works to re-introduce similar animals in order to de-insulate the snow and revive the grasslands. Keywords: snow patches, de-insulation megafauna, compact, climate change, global warming, Arctic Winter, simulation Pleistocene Park Simulations Research and Context: Climate Change is a global phenomenon with limited time and limited solutions. With a little over a decade to relieve the extensive C02 influx in the atmosphere, the hunt for an answer is more critical than ever. Solutions, such as the Abandoned Farmland Restorations and Efficient Aviation, explained by Paul Hawkin, an environmentalist, have been implemented in order to stall the ramifications of global warming, but not to stop it. The time to find a solution with substantial consequences is now.
    [Show full text]
  • Role of Megafauna and Frozen Soil in the Atmospheric CH4 Dynamics
    Role of Megafauna and Frozen Soil in the Atmospheric CH4 Dynamics Sergey Zimov*, Nikita Zimov Northeast Science Station, Pacific Institute for Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Cherskii, Russia Abstract Modern wetlands are the world’s strongest methane source. But what was the role of this source in the past? An analysis of global 14C data for basal peat combined with modelling of wetland succession allowed us to reconstruct the dynamics of global wetland methane emission through time. These data show that the rise of atmospheric methane concentrations during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition was not connected with wetland expansion, but rather started substantially later, only 9 thousand years ago. Additionally, wetland expansion took place against the background of a decline in atmospheric methane concentration. The isotopic composition of methane varies according to source. Owing to ice sheet drilling programs past dynamics of atmospheric methane isotopic composition is now known. For example over the course of Pleistocene-Holocene transition atmospheric methane became depleted in the deuterium isotope, which indicated that the rise in methane concentrations was not connected with activation of the deuterium-rich gas clathrates. Modelling of the budget of the atmospheric methane and its isotopic composition allowed us to reconstruct the dynamics of all main methane sources. For the late Pleistocene, the largest methane source was megaherbivores, whose total biomass is estimated to have exceeded that of present-day humans and domestic animals. This corresponds with our independent estimates of herbivore density on the pastures of the late Pleistocene based on herbivore skeleton density in the permafrost. During deglaciation, the largest methane emissions originated from degrading frozen soils of the mammoth steppe biome.
    [Show full text]
  • De-Extinction
    G C A T T A C G G C A T genes Review De-Extinction Ben Jacob Novak 1,2,3 1 Revive & Restore, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA; [email protected]; Tel.: +1-415-289-1000 2 Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia 3 Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Newcomb, Victoria 3220, Australia Received: 26 September 2018; Accepted: 7 November 2018; Published: 13 November 2018 Abstract: De-extinction projects for species such as the woolly mammoth and passenger pigeon have greatly stimulated public and scientific interest, producing a large body of literature and much debate. To date, there has been little consistency in descriptions of de-extinction technologies and purposes. In 2016, a special committee of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) published a set of guidelines for de-extinction practice, establishing the first detailed description of de-extinction; yet incoherencies in published literature persist. There are even several problems with the IUCN definition. Here I present a comprehensive definition of de-extinction practice and rationale that expounds and reconciles the biological and ecological inconsistencies in the IUCN definition. This new definition brings together the practices of reintroduction and ecological replacement with de-extinction efforts that employ breeding strategies to recover unique extinct phenotypes into a single “de-extinction” discipline. An accurate understanding of de-extinction and biotechnology segregates the restoration of certain species into a new classification of endangerment, removing them from the purview of de-extinction and into the arena of species’ recovery.
    [Show full text]
  • Animals and Ecological Science
    Animals and Ecological Science Oxford Handbooks Online Animals and Ecological Science Anita Guerrini The Oxford Handbook of Animal Studies (Forthcoming) Edited by Linda Kalof Subject: Political Science, Political Theory, Comparative Politics Online Publication Date: Feb DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199927142.013.25 2015 Abstract and Keywords Ecological science, which studies the relationships between organisms and their environments, developed from natural history. Aristotle’s teleological chain of being and detailed description modeled natural history until the eighteenth century. Linnaeus and Buffon replaced Aristotelian categories with new criteria for classification, leading the way to Darwin’s evolutionary theory. Darwinian evolution depended on environmental factors and led to the birth of ecological science by the end of the nineteenth century. The ecosystem concept emphasizes populations and systems rather than individuals. Case studies, of wolves and fish show the range of modern ecological science. Anthropogenic changes to the environment have led to extinction and endangered species. Attempts to meliorate human influence include rewilding and synthetic biology. Keywords: ecological science, chain of being, ecosystem, endangered species, evolution, extinction, natural history, rewilding, synthetic biology, taxonomy Introduction The chapter examines animals as objects of scientific study in the ecological sciences under three broad headings. Before there was ecological science, there was natural history, while today some believe that the future of ecological science is in what has been called de-extinction or synthetic biology. Between these two extremes, I look at some current practices in ecological science, with case studies of wolves and fish. The following section of the volume looks at animals in ecosystems. From Natural History to Ecology Although Aristotle (384–322 BCE) was not the first to regard animals as subjects of inquiry rather than as commodities, he was the first Western philosopher to do this systematically.
    [Show full text]
  • ROBOT COWBOY: Ian Miller, Matt Rossbach REVIVING TUNDRA GRASSLAND Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture, THROUGH ROBOTIC HERDING Louisiana State University
    ROBOT COWBOY: Ian Miller, Matt Rossbach REVIVING TUNDRA GRASSLAND Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture, THROUGH ROBOTIC HERDING Louisiana State University 1 Algorithmic Ecology System Diagram ABSTRACT The primary issue in northeastern Siberia is the continuing recession of permafrost due to the degraded condition of the grassland ecology, which will amplify global warming. The release of ancient gas stored in the permafrost will accelerate the greenhouse effect and catastrophically affect the health of the planet. The restoration of Pleistocene-like conditions can actively combat this potential danger through gas sequestration in the roots of grasses and a stable layer of per- mafrost. Once reintroduced to the region, large herd animals will play an integral role in maintain- ing their own ecosystem. The use of digital sensing and robotics surpasses human capability to create a relationship between these large herding herbivores and the grassland tundra landscape in order to help stabilize and reestablish the Siberian permafrost. Robotic herding rovers tirelessly traverse the vast territory of Siberia equipped with instruments and satellite communication to continuously read and adjust to ground conditions, fostering an emergent ecology. These coop- erative technologies aid in the reconstruction of a grassland ecosystem with the ability to prevent permafrost from thawing and potentially mitigate negative consequences of global warming. 147 THE GLOBAL STAKES will: achieve the high transpiration rate of the grasses; increase the albedo to reflect solar radiation; increase drying winds across The proposal investigates the work of Russian geophysicist the region; and expand the depth of the permafrost. All of which Sergey Zimov at Pleistocene Park in Cherskii, the Republic of result in a cumulative effort of greenhouse gas sequestration Sakha—the region commonly known as Siberia.
    [Show full text]
  • References in Larger Numbers of Competitive Herbivores, Eventually Lowe, J
    One Step Back, Two Steps Forward: Reversing the Anthropocene Aldo Jesus and Tyler Lewis Department of Anthropology ANT 4901 Quaternary Environments – Dr. Anna Dixon Introduction Conclusions Our era is currently on a nearly unstoppable course Proof and Discussion Ultimately, by restoring a Pleistocene-like to the demise of our planet, the key component in all of ecosystem with the appropriate flora and fauna, this being that this end is “nearly” unstoppable. The Anthropocene, an era of significant human activity diverse and densely growing, can halt the possible responsible for the changes made to the Earth. secretion of microbes leading to carbon dioxide gases accelerating the greenhouse effect. The eventual presence of large herbivores means that Even with humans on the forefront, some would say most vegetation is grazed and most snow is that the Anthropocene is the introduction of a downfall trampled, leading to the ground becoming cooler to humanity. Fairly enough, as many may know, we and decreasing the chances of ice melting. The have had a great deal of issues caused by human Pleistocene environment is also known for reflecting activity that has harmed the Earth’s ability to be rays of sunlight skyward as opposed to absorbing it, self-sustaining. Even our trees, acting as carbon stores ridding of further heating of the Earth. In the to reduce emissions, are cut down in great amounts. wintertime, the temperature will be much colder than One ecosystem that remains fairly true to its natural roots through this is Northern Siberia, which is still at it is now to combat further melting of the area’s ice, risk of dying out due to human activity Figure 2: Sergey A.
    [Show full text]