《Science》| 转型生态与气候变化

摘要

生态系统转型正在成为气候变化下的全球威胁。从墨西哥到阿拉斯加，针叶林向灌木林、草原和其他生态系统的转变正在进行中。在美国西部，灌木草原和灌木丛正在让位于非原生的一年生草原。河漫滩的森林正在变成亚马逊的稀树草原，灌木和树木正在侵入北极苔原，大型藻类正在取代珊瑚礁珊瑚，远洋海洋物种的地理变化正在创造前所未有的组合。气候变化是这些转变的主要驱动力。快速的生态变化正受到越来越多的科学关注，其中大部分关注于确定可选稳定状态之间的临界点，并与强大的理论和概念框架相结合。然而，在气候变化下，随着优势物种数量的累积和物种范围的转移的改变增加，生态转型可能会逐渐发生。发展一门转型生态学的科学是及时的，因为这种变化正在发生，而且迫在眉睫。

Abstract

Ecosystem transformation is emerging as a global threat under climate change. Conversion of conifer forest to shrubland, steppe, and other ecosystems is underway from Mexico to Alaska. Shrub steppe and chaparral are giving way to non-native annual grassland in the western United States. Floodplain forests are yielding to savanna in Amazonia, shrubs and trees are invading Arctic tundra, reef corals are being replaced by macroalgae, and geographic shifts in pelagic marine species are creating unprecedented combinations. Climate change is a primary driver of these transformations. Rapid ecological change is receiving increased scientific attention, much of which is focused on identifying tipping points between alternative stable states, tying into powerful theoretical and conceptual frameworks. However, ecological transformation can occur gradually, as incremental changes in dominant species populations accumulate and species ranges shift under changing climate. Developing a science of transformational ecology is timely in view of ongoing and imminent changes.

《科学》  Science 

《科学》是科学新闻、评论和前沿研究的领先渠道。通过印刷版和网络版，《科学》在世界范围内拥有超过100万的读者。《科学》的作者也是全球性的，它的文章一直位居世界上被引用最多的研究之列。

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