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Article Dans Une Revue Science of the Total Environment Année : 2022

Scientists' warning of threats to mountains

Les scientifiques mettent en garde contre les menaces qui pèsent sur les montagnes

Davnah Urbach
Kieran Bates
Jordi Catalan
Dan Cogălniceanu
Matthew Fisher
Leopold Füreder
Dean Jacobsen
Yu-Pin Lin
William Ripple

Résumé

Mountains are an essential component of the global life-support system. They are characterized by a rugged, heterogenous landscape with rapidly changing environmental conditions providing myriad ecological niches over relatively small spatial scales. Although montane species are well adapted to life at extremes, they are highly vulnerable to human derived ecosystem threats. Here we build on the manifesto 'World Scientists' Warning to Humanity', issued by the Alliance of World Scientists, to outline the major threats to mountain ecosystems. We highlight climate change as the greatest threat to mountain ecosystems, which are more impacted than their lowland counterparts. We further discuss the cascade of "knock-on" effects of climate change such as increased UV radiation, altered hydrological cycles, and altered pollution profiles; highlighting the biological and socioeconomic consequences. Finally, we present how intensified use of mountains leads to overexploitation and abstraction of water, driving changes in carbon stock, reducing biodiversity, and impacting ecosystem functioning. These perturbations can provide opportunities for invasive species, parasites and pathogens to colonize these fragile habitats, driving further changes and losses of micro-and macrobiodiversity, as well further impacting ecosystem services. Ultimately, imbalances in the normal functioning of mountain ecosystems will lead to changes in vital biological, biochemical, and chemical processes, critically reducing ecosystem health with widespread repercussions for animal and human wellbeing. Developing tools in species/habitat conservation and future restoration is therefore essential if we are to effectively mitigate against the declining health of mountains.
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Dates et versions

hal-03795426 , version 1 (07-10-2022)

Identifiants

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Dirk Schmeller, Davnah Urbach, Kieran Bates, Jordi Catalan, Dan Cogălniceanu, et al.. Scientists' warning of threats to mountains. Science of the Total Environment, 2022, 853, pp.158611. ⟨10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158611⟩. ⟨hal-03795426⟩
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