Globalization: Ecological consequences of global-scale connectivity in people, resources, and information

Title	Globalization: Ecological consequences of global-scale connectivity in people, resources, and information
Publication Type	Book Chapter
Year of Publication	2011
Authors	Peters DC
Book Title	The Systemic Dimension of Globalization
Chapter	11
Pagination	211-232
Publisher	InTech
ISBN Number	978-953-307-384-2
Accession Number	JRN00567
ARIS Log Number	265293
Abstract	Globalization is a phenomenon affecting all facets of the Earth System. Within the context of ecological systems, it is becoming increasingly apparent that global connectivity among terrestrial systems, the atmosphere, and oceans is driving many ecological dynamics at finer scales and pushing thresholds of change. In addition, fine-scale ecological dynamics can propagate spatially to influence broad spatial extents with feedbacks to global drivers. Because global change drivers and ecosystem dynamics are changing nonlinearly through time for many locations, it is critical that connections across different aspects of the Earth System be examined to improve both understanding and prediction of future dynamics. Here, three classes of connectivity events are described that emerge from a common, integrated framework. Each class has different characteristics that connect ecological systems at fine to broad scales. Examples are provided to illustrate how various global change drivers can influence and interact with heterogeneity in land surface properties of vegetation and soil pattern to either synchronize, attenuate or amplify impacts of drivers on ecological systems. Approaches are also described to quantifying global change impacts and ecological responses when locations are connected spatially.
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