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Kim H, Lazurko A, Linney G, Maskell L, Díaz-General E, Březovská RJ, Keune H, Laspidou C, Malinen H, Oinonen S, Raymond J, Rounsevell M, Vaňo S, Venâncio MD, Viesca-Ramirez A, Wijesekera A, Wilson K, Ziliaskopoulos K, Harrison PA. Understanding the role of biodiversity in the climate, food, water, energy, transport and health nexus in Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 925:171692. [PMID: 38485013 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Biodiversity underpins the functioning of ecosystems and the diverse benefits that nature provides to people, yet is being lost at an unprecedented rate. To halt or reverse biodiversity loss, it is critical to understand the complex interdependencies between biodiversity and key drivers and sectors to inform the development of holistic policies and actions. We conducted a literature review on the interlinkages between biodiversity and climate change, food, water, energy, transport and health ("the biodiversity nexus"). Evidence extracted from 194 peer-reviewed articles was analysed to assess how biodiversity is being influenced by and is influencing the other nexus elements. Out of the 354 interlinkages between biodiversity and the other nexus elements, 53 % were negative, 29 % were positive and 18 % contained both positive and negative influences. The majority of studies provide evidence of the negative influence of other nexus elements on biodiversity, highlighting the substantial damage being inflicted on nature from human activities. The main types of negative impacts were land or water use/change, land or water degradation, climate change, and direct species fatalities through collisions with infrastructure. Alternatively, evidence of biodiversity having a negative influence on the other nexus elements was limited to the effects of invasive alien species and vector-borne diseases. Furthermore, a range of studies provided evidence of how biodiversity and the other nexus elements can have positive influences on each other through practices that promote co-benefits. These included biodiversity-friendly management in relevant sectors, protection and restoration of ecosystems and species that provide essential ecosystem services, green and blue infrastructure including nature-based solutions, and sustainable and healthy diets that mitigate climate change. The review highlighted the complexity and context-dependency of interlinkages within the biodiversity nexus, but clearly demonstrates the importance of biodiversity in underpinning resilient ecosystems and human well-being in ensuring a sustainable future for people and the planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- HyeJin Kim
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK.
| | - Anita Lazurko
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - George Linney
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Lindsay Maskell
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Elizabeth Díaz-General
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
| | - Romana Jungwirth Březovská
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 986/4a, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Charles University, Faculty of Humanities, Pátkova 2137/5, 182 00 Praha 8 - Libeň, Czech Republic
| | - Hans Keune
- Chair Care and the Natural Living Environment, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Chrysi Laspidou
- Civil Engineering Department, University of Thessaly, Volos 38334, Greece; Sustainable Development Unit, ATHENA Research Center, Marousi 15125, Greece
| | - Henna Malinen
- Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Soile Oinonen
- Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joanna Raymond
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
| | - Mark Rounsevell
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany; Institute for Geography & Geo-ecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany; School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Simeon Vaňo
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 986/4a, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 94974 Nitra, Slovakia
| | | | - Alejandrina Viesca-Ramirez
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 986/4a, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ayesha Wijesekera
- United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, United Kingdom
| | - Katie Wilson
- United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, United Kingdom
| | - Konstantinos Ziliaskopoulos
- Civil Engineering Department, University of Thessaly, Volos 38334, Greece; Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa 41500, Greece
| | - Paula A Harrison
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
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Ocobock C. Human cold adaptation: An unfinished agenda v2.0. Am J Hum Biol 2024; 36:e23937. [PMID: 37345289 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research on human extreme cold climate adaptations has benefitted from a recent resurgence since Ted Steegmann laid out his Human Cold Adaptation Agenda in 2007. Human biologists have drastically expanded our knowledge in this area during the last 15 years, but we still have a great deal more work to do to fulfill the cold climate adaptation agenda. METHODS Here, I follow Steegmann's example by providing a review of cold climate adaptations and setting forth a new, expanded agenda. RESULTS I review the foundational work on cold climate adaptations including classic Bergmann, Allen, and Thomson rules as well as early work assessing metabolic differences among Indigenous cold climate populations. From there, I discuss some of the groundbreaking work currently taking place on cold climate adaptations such as brown adipose tissue (a heat generating organ), physical activity levels, metabolic rates, and behavioral/cultural mechanisms. Finally, I present a path forward for future research with a focus on some of the basic extreme cold adaptations as well as how human biologists should approach the effects of climate change on human health and well-being, particularly within a cold climate context. CONCLUSION The Arctic has felt the dramatic effects of climate change sooner and more acutely than other parts of the world, making it an ideal location for studying both cold climate adaptations and climate change resilience. Human biologists have a great deal to contribute to the conversation on not only adaptations to extreme cold, but also the ways in which climate change is being embodied by cold climate populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Ocobock
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Department of Gender Studies, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
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Rosinger AY. Extreme climatic events and human biology and health: A primer and opportunities for future research. Am J Hum Biol 2023; 35:e23843. [PMID: 36449411 PMCID: PMC9840683 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Extreme climatic events are increasing in frequency, leading to hotter temperatures, flooding, droughts, severe storms, and rising oceans. This special issue brings together a collection of seven articles that describe the impacts of extreme climatic events on a diverse set of human biology and health outcomes. The first two articles cover extreme temperatures extending from extreme heat to cold and changes in winter weather and the respective implications for adverse health events, human environmental limits, well-being, and human adaptability. Next, two articles cover the effects of exposures to extreme storms through an examination of hurricanes and cyclones on stress and birth outcomes. The following two articles describe the effects of extreme flooding events on livelihoods, nutrition, water and food insecurity, diarrheal and respiratory health, and stress. The last article examines the effects of drought on diet and food insecurity. Following a brief review of each extreme climatic event and articles covered in this special issue, I discuss future research opportunities-highlighting domains of climate change and specific research questions that are ripe for biological anthropologists to investigate. I close with a description of interdisciplinary methods to assess climate exposures and human biology outcomes to aid the investigation of the defining question of our time - how climate change will affect human biology and health. Ultimately, climate change is a water, food, and health problem. Human biologists offer a unique perspective for a combination of theoretical, methodological, and applied reasons and thus are in a prime position to contribute to this critical research agenda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asher Y. Rosinger
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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