Publications

The natural capital framework for sustainably efficient and equitable decision making

Publication ID: pub.1129069863

Publication date: 08/07/2020

Keywords: Decision Making; Ecological and Economic Perspectives; Economic and Social Wellbeing; Equitable; Framework; Government Policy; Natural Capital; Natural Environment; Natural Science; Private Sector; Sustainable

The concept of ‘natural capital’ is gaining traction internationally as recognition grows of the central role of the natural environment in sustaining economic and social well-being. It is therefore encouraging to see the first signs of a ‘natural capital approach’ to decision making being accepted within government policy processes and the private sector. However, there […]

Directions for Research on Climate and Conflict

Publication ID: pub.1127869790

Publication date: 03/07/2020

Keywords: Armed Conflict; Climate Change

The potential links between climate and conflict are well studied, yet disagreement about the specific mechanisms and their significance for societies persists. Here, we build on assessment of the relationship between climate and organized armed conflict to define crosscutting priorities for future directions of research. They include (1) deepening insight into climate-conflict linkages and conditions […]

The increasing likelihood of temperatures above 30 to 40 °C in the United Kingdom

Publication ID: pub.1128845139

Publication date: 30/06/2020

Keywords: Climate Model Data; Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Heatwaves; Human Influence; Mean Extremes; Record Temperature; Relationship; Severe; Summer; United Kingdom

As European heatwaves become more severe, summers in the United Kingdom (UK) are also getting warmer. The UK record temperature of 38.7 °C set in Cambridge in July 2019 prompts the question of whether exceeding 40 °C is now within reach. Here, we show how human influence is increasing the likelihood of exceeding 30, 35 and 40 °C […]

Biased-corrected richness estimates for the Amazonian tree flora

Publication ID: pub.1128690286

Publication date: 23/06/2020

Keywords: Amazonia; Biodiversity; Brazil; Classification; Forests; Rivers; Trees

Amazonian forests are extraordinarily diverse, but the estimated species richness is very much debated. Here, we apply an ensemble of parametric estimators and a novel technique that includes conspecific spatial aggregation to an extended database of forest plots with up-to-date taxonomy. We show that the species abundance distribution of Amazonia is best approximated by a […]

Projections of coral cover and habitat change on turbid reefs under future sea-level rise

Publication ID: pub.1128530591

Publication date: 17/06/2020

Keywords: Animals; Anthozoa; Australia; Climate Change; Coral Reefs; Great Barrier Reef; Refugium; Sea Level Rise

Global sea-level rise (SLR) is projected to increase water depths above coral reefs. Although the impacts of climate disturbance events on coral cover and three-dimensional complexity are well documented, knowledge of how higher sea levels will influence future reef habitat extent and bioconstruction is limited. Here, we use 31 reef cores, coupled with detailed benthic […]

Legacy of Amazonian Dark Earth soils on forest structure and species composition

Publication ID: pub.1128473751

Publication date: 14/06/2020

Keywords: Anthropogenic; Archaeology; Conservation; Eastern and Southern Amazonia; Ethnobotany; Palaeoecology; Palaeoindian; Pre-Colombian

Amazonian forests predominantly grow on highly weathered and nutrient poor soils. Anthropogenically enriched Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE), traditionally known as Terra Preta de Índio, were formed by pre‐Columbian populations. ADE soils are characterized by increased fertility and have continued to be exploited following European colonization. Here, we evaluated the legacy of land‐use and soil enrichment […]