Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
Large ecosystems, such as the Amazon rainforest, will collapse and disappear alarmingly quickly, once a crucial tipping point is reached, according to calculations based on real-world data.
Writing in Nature Communications, researchers from Bangor University, Southampton University and The School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London, reveal the speed at which ecosystems of different sizes will disappear, once they have reached a point beyond which they collapse -- transforming into an alternative ecosystem.
For example, once the 'point of no return' is reached, the iconic Amazon rainforest could shift to a savannah-type ecosystem with a mix of trees and grass within 50 years, according to the work.
Some scientists argue that many ecosystems are currently teetering on the edge of this precipice, with the fires and destruction both in the Amazon and in Australia.
"Unfortunately, what our paper reveals is that humanity needs to prepare for changes far sooner than expected," says joint lead author Dr Simon Willcock of Bangor University's School of Natural Sciences.
"These rapid changes to the world's largest and most iconic ecosystems would impact the benefits which they provide us with, including everything from food and materials, to the oxygen and water we need for life."
-- submitted from IRC
Gregory S. Cooper, Simon Willcock & John A. Dearing. Regime shifts occur disproportionately faster in larger ecosystems. Nature Communications, 2020 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15029-x
(Score: 4, Informative) by Phoenix666 on Friday March 13 2020, @06:12PM (3 children)
Rainforests are not constant. The Amazon has changed over time [wikipedia.org]:
There is also evidence that the Amazonian basin was much more densely populated (and therefore deforested) in the past than now:
Evidence of prior deforestation and widespread human habitation has been found in geoglyphs (like the Nazca Lines) that would have been created in earlier periods of deforestation, and also:
The Wikipedia article linked above shows pictures of those.
Additional [businessinsider.com] articles [newscientist.com] point up that the Amazon is not a pristine rainforest, but rather:
Yes, let's do a better job of conserving our natural resources, but let's stop repeating myths for political reasons when scientific evidence has revealed a different picture.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 13 2020, @07:10PM (2 children)
Because you are more qualified than the entire scientific community (besides those handful of shills that get their money from folks like Exon Mobile).
Sure thing, whatever you say.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Friday March 13 2020, @07:57PM
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Saturday March 14 2020, @11:53AM
I cited scientific researchers who have found evidence the Amazon was heavily populated before and much more deforested than it is now.
You cited...nothing.
I provided multiple links, with a limited claim.
You gave an expansive, insulting dismissal and backed it up with nothing.
Sure thing, whatever you say.
Washington DC delenda est.