Climate Change and Ecosystems (2019) / Chapter Skim
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2 Sustaining Ecosystems in the Face of Climate Change
2 Sustaining Ecosystems in the Face of Climate Change
Pages 14-19
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From page 14... ...
In these cases, novel conservation measures are being considered to augment traditional approaches.25 Many factors must be considered in determining the best strategy for sustaining ecosystems. Likewise, a diverse set of decision makers and stakeholders (e.g., ecosystem managers; local, state, federal, and international policy makers; and scientists)
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From page 15... ...
For marine ecosystems, one study suggested that ize and separate the protection of 30-50% of the ocean is needed to achieve biodiversity conservation, ecosystem connectivity, support for fisheries adjacent to protected areas, and other response of species objectives.26 Protected areas can also be a particularly powerful tool to rebuild and communities to depleted populations and to retain and repair habitats that have been degraded periodic, stochastic, by climate change. In addition, designing a network of wildlife areas across a fragmented landscape could allow for easier movement of individuals, thereby helping and/or cyclical them expand their range to accommodate changing climate conditions.
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From page 16... ...
Although conservation ethics and policies have largely discouraged facilitating movement of species to new location, these sorts of strategies may become increasingly important under a changing climate. For example, sustaining particular ecosystem services in a particular location may require plant or animal species with specific functional traits.
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From page 17... ...
Functional trait diversity -- defined as the value, range, distribution, and relative abundance of the functional traits collectively present among organisms in a given ecosystem -- can also facilitate adaptation when new recruits into an ecosystem (even if a different species) have similar functional traits to those that may be declining or lost.29 Some scientists are beginning to explore options for genetically modifying organisms to be more resistant to climate change impacts (see Box 2 for potential examples for coral reef ecosystems)
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From page 18... ...
Methods for assisted evolution are also being tested, whereby researchers work to help corals adapt to climate change impacts by genetically increasing their resistance to stresses such as temperature and acidity.b Efforts to reduce ocean acidity in reef ecosystems and increase reef growth are being evaluated at the local scale using seagrasses and other marine plants, as well as chemical remediation. Field studies have shown that cultivation of seagrasses can increase carbon uptake by the plants through photosynthe sis, thereby reducing acidity, c while chemical reme diation can reduce acidity through the introduction of chemicals such as calcium carbonate or sodium hydroxide that neutralize carbonic acid (the acid formed through the interaction of carbon dioxide and water)
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From page 19... ...
Where particular ecosystems provide valuable ecosystem services, it might be advantageous to allow ecosystem change through shifts in species ranges, species composition, and even evolution. Alternatively, assisted transformation of species -- for example, through genetic engineering or hybridization between native and invasive species -- may allow ecosystems or species to be retained where they might otherwise be degraded or lost as a result of climate change.
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