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Influence of extreme weather disasters on global crop production
In recent years, several extreme weather disasters have partially or completely damaged regional crop production1, 2, 3, 4, 5. While detailed regional accounts of the effects of extreme weather disasters exist, the global scale effects of droughts,…
Holocene shifts in the assembly of plant and animal communities implicate human impacts
Understanding how ecological communities are organized and how they change through time is critical to predicting the effects of climate change1. Recent work documenting the co-occurrence structure of modern communities found that most significant…
The best science images of 2015
From Pluto to viral structures, this year produced an array of dazzling pictures.
Grassland biodiversity bounces back from long-term nitrogen addition
The negative effect of increasing atmospheric nitrogen (N) pollution on grassland biodiversity is now incontrovertible1, 2, 3. However, the recent introduction of cleaner technologies in the UK has led to reductions in the emissions of nitrogen…
Rarity in mass extinctions and the future of ecosystems
The fossil record provides striking case studies of biodiversity loss and global ecosystem upheaval. Because of this, many studies have sought to assess the magnitude of the current biodiversity crisis relative to past crises—a task greatly…
Potential sea-level rise from Antarctic ice-sheet instability constrained by observations
Large parts of the Antarctic ice sheet lying on bedrock below sea level may be vulnerable to marine-ice-sheet instability (MISI)1, a self-sustaining retreat of the grounding line triggered by oceanic or atmospheric changes. There is growing…
Thermal biases and vulnerability to warming in the world’s marine fauna
A critical assumption underlying projections of biodiversity change associated with global warming is that ecological communities comprise balanced mixes of warm-affinity and cool-affinity species which, on average, approximate local environmental…
Soil biodiversity and human health
Soil biodiversity sustains human health and its loss can be mitigated by sustainable management.
Agricultural policy: Govern our soils
Luca Montanarella calls for a voluntary international agreement to protect the ground beneath our feet from erosion and degradation.
Global climate agreement: After the talks
The real business of decarbonization begins after an agreement is signed at the Paris climate conference, argue David G. Victor and James P. Leape.
The effects of life history and sexual selection on male and female plumage colouration
Classical sexual selection theory1, 2, 3, 4 provides a well-supported conceptual framework for understanding the evolution and signalling function of male ornaments. It predicts that males obtain greater fitness benefits than females through multiple…
North Pacific deglacial hypoxic events linked to abrupt ocean warming
Marine sediments from the North Pacific document two episodes of expansion and strengthening of the subsurface oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) accompanied by seafloor hypoxia during the last deglacial transition1, 2, 3, 4. The mechanisms driving this…
Sustainability: Transfer project cannot meet China's water needs
Better local water management is the way to keep pace with escalating demands, not pumping water across the country, warn Jon Barnett and colleagues.
Plate tectonics on the Earth triggered by plume-induced subduction initiation
Scientific theories of how subduction and plate tectonics began on Earth—and what the tectonic structure of Earth was before this—remain enigmatic and contentious1. Understanding viable scenarios for the onset of subduction and plate tectonics2, 3 is…
Plate tectonics on the Earth triggered by plume-induced subduction initiation
Scientific theories of how subduction and plate tectonics began on Earth—and what the tectonic structure of Earth was before this—remain enigmatic and contentious1. Understanding viable scenarios for the onset of subduction and plate tectonics2, 3 is…
Soil biodiversity and soil community composition determine ecosystem multifunctionality
An article about how soil diversity and soil community composition determine ecosystem multifunctionality
Ecosystems: Time to model all life on Earth
The authors discuss the importance for international authorities such as the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services to simulate the physics and chemistry of the ecosystem to better understand the climate system. They…
Increased Dependence of Humans on Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity
Humans have altered ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than ever, largely to meet rapidly growing demands for resources along with economic development. These demands have been considered important drivers of ecosystemdegradation and…
Historic Mining and Agriculture as Indicators
of Occurrence and Abundance of Widespread
Invasive Plant Species
Anthropogenic disturbances often change ecological communities and provide opportunities for non-native species invasion. Understanding the impacts of disturbances on species invasion is therefore crucial for invasive speciesmanagement. We used…
