Current state of knowledge regarding the world’s wetlands and their future under global climate change: a synthesis
| Autor: | Shuqing An, Wolfgang J. Junk, Brij Gopal, William J. Mitsch, C. M. Finlayson, Stephen Anthony Mitchell, Jan Kvĕt, Richard D. Robarts |
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| Rok vydání: | 2012 |
| Předmět: |
geography
geography.geographical_feature_category Ecology Global warming Climate change Context (language use) Wetland Aquatic Science Land reclamation Environmental protection Sustainability Environmental science Water cycle Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Exploitation of natural resources Water Science and Technology |
| Zdroj: | Aquatic Sciences |
| ISSN: | 1420-9055 1015-1621 |
| Popis: | Wetlands cover at least 6 % of the Earth’s surface. They play a key role in hydrological and biogeochemical cycles, harbour a large part of the world’s biodiversity, and provide multiple services to humankind. However, pressure in the form of land reclamation, intense resource exploitation, changes in hydrology, and pollution threaten wetlands on all continents. Depending on the region, 30–90 % of the world’s wetlands have already been destroyed or strongly modified in many countries with no sign of abatement. Climate change scenarios predict additional stresses on wetlands, mainly because of changes in hydrology, temperature increases, and a rise in sea level. Yet, intact wetlands play a key role as buffers in the hydrological cycle and as sinks for organic carbon, counteracting the effects of the increase in atmospheric CO2. Eight chapters comprising this volume of Aquatic Sciences analyze the current ecological situation and the use of the wetlands in major regions of the world in the context of global climate change. This final chapter provides a synthesis of the findings and recommendations for the sustainable use and protection of these important ecosystems. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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