Novel Ecosystems in the Urban-Industrial Landscape–Interesting Aspects of Environmental Knowledge Requiring Broadening: A Review
Open Access
- 30 August 2022
- journal article
- review article
- Published by MDPI AG in Sustainability
- Vol. 14 (17), 10829
- https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710829
Abstract
Human activity is affecting and transforming the natural environment, changing the ecosystem mosaic and natural biogeochemical processes in urban-industrial landscapes. Among the anthropogenic ecosystems, there are many present features of Novel Ecosystems (NE), e.g., the de novo created habitats on post-mineral excavation sites. The biological nature of the functional mechanisms of Novel Ecosystems is mostly unknown. In natural and semi-natural ecosystems, biodiversity is considered as the primary element influencing ecosystem processes and functioning. The preliminary studies conducted on post-mineral excavation sites have shown that, in poor oligotrophic habitats, the species composition of the assembled vascular plants is non-analogous, distinctive, and not found in natural and semi-natural habitats. This paper aims to present the gaps between scientific identification of the biological mechanisms driving ecosystem processes and functioning (including the expanding areas of Novel Ecosystems created de novo). Among the identified gaps, the following issues should be listed. The detailed identification and understanding of the processes and biodiversity-dependent functioning of Novel Ecosystems is crucial for proper environmental management, particularly when facing the challenges of ecological constraints and of global change. The ecology of Novel Ecosystems is a social and economic issue because of the relationships with densely populated urban-industrial areas.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Centre for Research and Development (NCN 6P04G05312, TANGO1/268600/NCBR/2015)
- National Science Centre Poland (OPUS 2017/25/B/NZ8/02449, OPUS 2019/35/B/ST10/04141)
This publication has 55 references indexed in Scilit:
- Adopting novel ecosystems as suitable rehabilitation alternatives for former mine sitesEcological Processes, 2013
- Incorporating novelty and novel ecosystems into restoration planning and practice in the 21st centuryEcological Processes, 2013
- Technical reclamations are wasting the conservation potential of post-mining sites. A case study of black coal spoil dumpsEcological Engineering, 2012
- Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanityNature, 2012
- Biodiversity and ecosystem services: a multilayered relationshipTrends in Ecology & Evolution, 2012
- Shifting Restoration Policy to Address Landscape Change, Novel Ecosystems, and MonitoringEcology and Society, 2012
- Rapid poleward range expansion of tropical reef corals in response to rising sea surface temperaturesGeophysical Research Letters, 2011
- Links between global taxonomic diversity, ecological diversity and the expansion of vertebrates on landBiology Letters, 2010
- Policy strategies to address sustainability of Alaskan boreal forests in response to a directionally changing climateProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2006
- The Potential for Carbon Sequestration Through Reforestation of Abandoned Tropical Agricultural and Pasture LandsRestoration Ecology, 2000