Defining the Anthropocene

Lewis, Simon L.; Maslin, Mark

doi:10.1038/nature14258

Cited by 2,494 publications

(1,502 citation statements)

References 110 publications

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“…The impacts of anthropogenic disturbances on ecosystems define a new epoch (Lewis & Maslin 2015), in which human 'fingerprints' are evident in virtually every biome (Walther et al 2002). Some of the strongest effects are caused by climate change (Walther et al 2002), but a wide variety of natural and local-scale human disturbances are acting in concert to drive changes in ecosystem structure and function (Mouillot et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryptic regime shift in benthic community structure on shallow reefs in St. John, US Virgin Islands

Edmunds¹,

Lasker²

2016

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryptic regime shift in benthic community structure on shallow reefs in St. John, US Virgin Islands

Edmunds¹,

Lasker²

2016

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Erlandson & Braje 2013;Braje 2015;Lewis & Maslin 2015;Ruddiman et al 2015;Zalasiewicz et al 2015;Waters et al 2016). Most geoscientists argue that the 'age of humans' began sometime in the last 50 years, but many archaeologists and other historical scientists recognize the millennia-long, complex interplay between humans and their local, regional and global environments that shaped the Anthropocene.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaeology, historical ecology and anthropogenic island ecosystems

et al. 2017

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SUMMARYIn the face of environmental uncertainty due to anthropogenic climate change, islands are at the front lines of global change, threatened by sea level rise, habitat alteration, extinctions and declining biodiversity. Islands also stand at the forefront of scientific study for understanding the deep history of human ecodynamics and to build sustainable future systems. We summarize the long history of human interactions with Polynesian, Mediterranean, Californian and Caribbean island ecosystems, documenting the effects of various waves of human settlement and socioeconomic systems, from hunter-gatherer-fishers, to agriculturalists, to globalized colonial interests. We identify degradation of island environments resulting from human activities, as well as cases of human management of resources to enhance productivity and create more sustainable systems. These case studies suggest that within a general global pattern of progressive island degradation, there was no single trajectory of human impact, but rather complex effects based on variable island physiographies, human subsistence strategies, population densities, technologies, sociopolitical organization and decision-making.

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“…25 ). Accordingly, scholarly assumptions about the timing of significant anthropogenic impacts on tropical forests generally point to the post-industrial era or, at the earliest, the colonial era of European 'discovery' [26][27] . Clearly, the accumulating database of archaeological and palaeoecological evidence for pre-industrial and pre-colonial tropical forest occupation and transformation has not been effectively communicated beyond a restricted set of sub-disciplines (though see [28][29][30][31] ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The deep human prehistory of global tropical forests and its relevance for modern conservation

et al. 2017

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Abstract/first paragraphSignificant human impacts on tropical forests have been considered the preserve of recent societies, linked to large-scale deforestation, extensive and intensive agriculture, resource mining, livestock grazing, and urban settlement. Cumulative archaeological evidence now demonstrates, however, that Homo sapiens has actively manipulated tropical forest ecologies for at least 45,000 years. It is clear that these millennia of impacts need to be taken into account when studying and conserving tropical forest ecosystems today. Nevertheless, archaeology has so far provided only limited practical insight into contemporary human-tropical forest interactions. Here, we review significant archaeological evidence for the impacts of past hunter-gatherers, agriculturalists, and urban settlements on global tropical forests. We compare the challenges faced, as well as the solutions adopted, by these groups with those confronting present-day societies, which also rely on tropical forests for a variety of ecosystem services. We emphasise archaeology's importance not only in promoting natural and cultural heritage in tropical forests, but also in taking an active role to inform modern conservation and policy-making.

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Defining the Anthropocene

Cited by 2,494 publications

References 110 publications

Cryptic regime shift in benthic community structure on shallow reefs in St. John, US Virgin Islands

Cryptic regime shift in benthic community structure on shallow reefs in St. John, US Virgin Islands

Archaeology, historical ecology and anthropogenic island ecosystems

The deep human prehistory of global tropical forests and its relevance for modern conservation

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