Toward a global classification of coastal anthromes
Toward a global classification of coastal anthromes
Given incontrovertible evidence that humans are the most powerful agents of environmental change on the planet, research has begun to acknowledge and integrate human presence and activity into updated descriptions of the world’s biomes as “anthromes”. Thus far, a classification system for anthromes is limited to the terrestrial biosphere. Here, I present a case for the consideration and validity of coastal anthromes. Every coastal environment on Earth is subject to direct and indirect human modification and disturbance. Despite the legacy, ubiquity, and pervasiveness of human interactions with coastal ecosystems, coastal anthromes still lack formal definition. Following the original argument and framework for terrestrial anthromes, I outline a set of coastal anthrome classifications that dovetail with terrestrial and marine counterparts. Recognising coastal environments as complex and increasingly vulnerable anthropogenic systems is a fundamental step toward understanding their modern dynamics—and, by extension, realising opportunities for and limits to their resilience.
Lazarus, Eli
642a3cdb-0d25-48b1-8ab8-8d1d72daca6e
2017
Lazarus, Eli
642a3cdb-0d25-48b1-8ab8-8d1d72daca6e
Abstract
Given incontrovertible evidence that humans are the most powerful agents of environmental change on the planet, research has begun to acknowledge and integrate human presence and activity into updated descriptions of the world’s biomes as “anthromes”. Thus far, a classification system for anthromes is limited to the terrestrial biosphere. Here, I present a case for the consideration and validity of coastal anthromes. Every coastal environment on Earth is subject to direct and indirect human modification and disturbance. Despite the legacy, ubiquity, and pervasiveness of human interactions with coastal ecosystems, coastal anthromes still lack formal definition. Following the original argument and framework for terrestrial anthromes, I outline a set of coastal anthrome classifications that dovetail with terrestrial and marine counterparts. Recognising coastal environments as complex and increasingly vulnerable anthropogenic systems is a fundamental step toward understanding their modern dynamics—and, by extension, realising opportunities for and limits to their resilience.
Text
land-06-00013.pdf
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 2 January 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 10 February 2017
Published date: 2017
Organisations:
Earth Surface Dynamics
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 405804
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/405804
ISSN: 2009-2415
PURE UUID: 5b1df804-e4d2-4a55-aa7f-e5004a9f2956
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 18 Feb 2017 00:20
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 04:28
Export record
Altmetrics
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
