Merging paleobiology with conservation biology to guide the future of terrestrial ecosystems

Anthony D. Barnosky; Elizabeth A. Hadly; Jason Head; Patrick Gonzalez; P. David Polly; A. Michelle Lawing; Jussi T. Eronen; David D. Ackerly; Ken Alex; Eric Biber; Jessica L. Blois; Justin Brashares; Gerardo Ceballos; Edward Davis; Gregory P. Dietl; Rodolfo Dirzo; Holly Doremus; Mikael Fortelius; Harry W. Greene; Jessica Hellmann; Thomas Hickler; Stephen T. Jackson; Melissa Kemp; Paul L. Koch; Claire Kremen; Emily L. Lindsey; Cindy Looy; Charles R. Marshall; Chase Mendenhall; Andreas Mulch; Alexis M. Mychajliw; Carsten Nowak; Uma Ramakrishnan; Jan Schnitzler; Kashish Das Shrestha; Katherine Solari; Lynn Stegner; M. Allison Stegner; Nils Chr. Stenseth; Marvalee H. Wake; Zhibin Zhang

doi:10.1126/science.aah4787

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Merging paleobiology with conservation biology to guide the future of terrestrial ecosystems

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Abstract

The current impacts of humanity on nature are rapid and destructive, but species turnover and change have occurred throughout the history of life. Although there is much debate about the best approaches to take in conservation, ultimately, we need to permit or enhance the resilience of natural systems so that they can continue to adapt and function into the future. In a Review, Barnosky et al. argue that the best way to do this is to look back at paleontological history as a way to understand how ecological resilience is maintained, even in the face of change.

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Anthony D. Barnosky, Elizabeth A. Hadly, Jason Head, Patrick Gonzalez, P. David Polly, A. Michelle Lawing, Jussi T. Eronen, David D. Ackerly, Ken Alex, Eric Biber, Jessica L. Blois, Justin Brashares, Gerardo Ceballos, Edward Davis, Gregory P. Dietl, Rodolfo Dirzo, Holly Doremus, Mikael Fortelius, Harry W. Greene, Jessica Hellmann, Thomas Hickler, Stephen T. Jackson, Melissa Kemp, Paul L. Koch, Claire Kremen, Emily L. Lindsey, Cindy Looy, Charles R. Marshall, Chase Mendenhall, Andreas Mulch, Alexis M. Mychajliw, Carsten Nowak, Uma Ramakrishnan, Jan Schnitzler, Kashish Das Shrestha, Katherine Solari, Lynn Stegner, M. Allison Stegner, Nils Chr. Stenseth, Marvalee H. Wake, Zhibin Zhang. 2017. Merging paleobiology with conservation biology to guide the future of terrestrial ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aah4787

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