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Metaxas A, Anglin CD, Cross A, Drazen J, Haeckel M, Mudd G, Smith CR, Smith S, Weaver PPE, Sonter L, Amon DJ, Erskine PD, Levin LA, Lily H, Maest AS, Mestre NC, Ramirez-Llodra E, Sánchez LE, Sharma R, Vanreusel A, Wheston S, Tunnicliffe V. Comparing environmental impacts of deep-seabed and land-based mining: A defensible framework. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17334. [PMID: 38780465 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The crises of climate change and biodiversity loss are interlinked and must be addressed jointly. A proposed solution for reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and thus mitigating climate change, is the transition from conventional combustion-engine to electric vehicles. This transition currently requires additional mineral resources, such as nickel and cobalt used in car batteries, presently obtained from land-based mines. Most options to meet this demand are associated with some biodiversity loss. One proposal is to mine the deep seabed, a vast, relatively pristine and mostly unexplored region of our planet. Few comparisons of environmental impacts of solely expanding land-based mining versus extending mining to the deep seabed for the additional resources exist and for biodiversity only qualitative. Here, we present a framework that facilitates a holistic comparison of relative ecosystem impacts by mining, using empirical data from relevant environmental metrics. This framework (Environmental Impact Wheel) includes a suite of physicochemical and biological components, rather than a few selected metrics, surrogates, or proxies. It is modified from the "recovery wheel" presented in the International Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration to address impacts rather than recovery. The wheel includes six attributes (physical condition, community composition, structural diversity, ecosystem function, external exchanges and absence of threats). Each has 3-5 sub attributes, in turn measured with several indicators. The framework includes five steps: (1) identifying geographic scope; (2) identifying relevant spatiotemporal scales; (3) selecting relevant indicators for each sub-attribute; (4) aggregating changes in indicators to scores; and (5) generating Environmental Impact Wheels for targeted comparisons. To move forward comparisons of land-based with deep seabed mining, thresholds of the indicators that reflect the range in severity of environmental impacts are needed. Indicators should be based on clearly articulated environmental goals, with objectives and targets that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Metaxas
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - C D Anglin
- Anglin & Associates Consulting, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - A Cross
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
- EcoHealth Network, Brookline, Massachusetts, USA
| | - J Drazen
- University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - M Haeckel
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - G Mudd
- Environmental Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - C R Smith
- University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - S Smith
- Blue Globe Solutions Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - L Sonter
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - D J Amon
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- SpeSeas, D'Abadie, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - P D Erskine
- Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - L A Levin
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - H Lily
- Independent Legal Consultant, Canterbury, Kent, UK
| | - A S Maest
- Buka Environmental, Telluride, Colorado, USA
| | - N C Mestre
- Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIMA)-Infrastructure Network in Aquatic Research (ARNET), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | | | - L E Sánchez
- Department of Mining and Petroleum Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - R Sharma
- National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India
| | - A Vanreusel
- Marine Biology Research Group Ghent University Krijgslaan, Ghent, Belgium
| | - S Wheston
- Tembusu-Sustainability & Risk Management, Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland
| | - V Tunnicliffe
- Department of Biology/School Earth & Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Macdonald KJ, Driscoll DA, Macdonald KJ, Hradsky B, Doherty TS. Meta-analysis reveals impacts of disturbance on reptile and amphibian body condition. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:4949-4965. [PMID: 37401520 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystem disturbance is increasing in extent, severity and frequency across the globe. To date, research has largely focussed on the impacts of disturbance on animal population size, extinction risk and species richness. However, individual responses, such as changes in body condition, can act as more sensitive metrics and may provide early warning signs of reduced fitness and population declines. We conducted the first global systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the impacts of ecosystem disturbance on reptile and amphibian body condition. We collated 384 effect sizes representing 137 species from 133 studies. We tested how disturbance type, species traits, biome and taxon moderate the impacts of disturbance on body condition. We found an overall negative effect of disturbance on herpetofauna body condition (Hedges' g = -0.37, 95% CI: -0.57, -0.18). Disturbance type was an influential predictor of body condition response and all disturbance types had a negative mean effect. Drought, invasive species and agriculture had the largest effects. The impact of disturbance varied in strength and direction across biomes, with the largest negative effects found within Mediterranean and temperate biomes. In contrast, taxon, body size, habitat specialisation and conservation status were not influential predictors of disturbance effects. Our findings reveal the widespread effects of disturbance on herpetofauna body condition and highlight the potential role of individual-level response metrics in enhancing wildlife monitoring. The use of individual response metrics alongside population and community metrics would deepen our understanding of disturbance impacts by revealing both early impacts and chronic effects within affected populations. This could enable early and more informed conservation management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina J Macdonald
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
| | - Don A Driscoll
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kimberley J Macdonald
- Biodiversity Protection and Information Branch, Biodiversity Division, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bronwyn Hradsky
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tim S Doherty
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Bradley HS, Craig MD, Tomlinson S, Cross AT, Bamford MJ, Bateman PW. Predators in a mining landscape: Threats to a behaviourally unique, endangered lizard. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Holly S. Bradley
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Kent Street, Bentley Perth West Australia 6102 Australia
| | - Michael D. Craig
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Crawley West Australia Australia
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences Murdoch University Murdoch West Australia Australia
| | - Sean Tomlinson
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Perth West Australia Australia
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Kings Park Science Perth West Australia Australia
- School of Biological Sciences University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Adam T. Cross
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Kent Street, Bentley Perth West Australia 6102 Australia
- EcoHealth Network: https://ecohealthglobal.org Brookline Massachusetts USA
| | | | - Philip W. Bateman
- Behavioural Ecology Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Perth West Australia Australia
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Cross SL, Bradley HS, Tudor EP, Craig MD, Tomlinson S, Bamford MJ, Bateman PW, Cross AT. A life‐of‐mine approach to fauna monitoring is critical for recovering functional ecosystems to restored landscapes. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie L. Cross
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Kent Street, Bentley WA 6102 Australia
| | - Holly S. Bradley
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Kent Street, Bentley WA 6102 Australia
| | - Emily P. Tudor
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Kent Street, Bentley WA 6102 Australia
| | - Michael D. Craig
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Stirling Highway, Nedlands WA 6009 Australia
- Environmental and Conservation Sciences Murdoch University South Street, Murdoch WA 6150 Australia
| | - Sean Tomlinson
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Kent Street, Bentley WA 6102 Australia
- School of Biological Sciences University of Adelaide North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000 Australia
| | - Michael J. Bamford
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Stirling Highway, Nedlands WA 6009 Australia
- Bamford Consulting Ecologists 23 Plover Way, Kingsley WA 6026 Australia
| | - Philip W. Bateman
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Kent Street, Bentley WA 6102 Australia
| | - Adam T. Cross
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Kent Street, Bentley WA 6102 Australia
- EcoHealth Network 1330 Beacon St, Suite 355a, Brookline MA 02446 U.S.A
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