Environment
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has been defined as one of 9 planetary boundaries that help
regulate the planet’s operating system. however humanity is crossing those
boundaries, threatening life on Earth.
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The planetary boundary for biodiversity loss
was initially measured by extinction rates, but this, as well as other
measurements, have proved to be insufficient in determining a global threshold
for biodiversity loss.
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While the planetary
boundary framework provides one way of understanding biodiversity or biosphere
integrity loss, there are many other measures of biodiversity loss — and all
point toward the fact that we are continuing to dangerously destabilize life on
Earth.
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Planetary Boundary theory according to this theory, a theory
that argues Earth has 9 biophysical subsystems or processes with clear limits
beyond that they can not withstand anthropogenic pressure.
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These were described as climate change, the
rate of biodiversity loss, interference with the nitrogen and phosphorus
cycles, ozone depletion, ocean acidification, global freshwater use, land use
changes, chemical and other pollution, and atmospheric aerosol loading.
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If humanity stays
within the “safe operating space” of these boundaries, life can thrive, the
theory suggests.
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If the thresholds are crossed, humanity can
push Earth into a new, dangerous state that isn’t as accommodating to life as
we know it.
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whereas its difficult, if not impossible, to identify a
global threshold for biosphere integrity, many researchers suggest that
biodiversity boundaries can be defined at local or regional scales through
something called “regime shifts,” also known as “tipping points.”
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A regime shift is an abrupt change that
fundamentally alters the structure and function of an ecosystem, changing it
from one state to another.
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In most cases, such
shifts are irreversible.
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However, in most cases,
regime shifts aren’t identified until after the process has occurred.
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Despite all these uncertainties, researchers
argue that biosphere integrity acts as a core boundary in the planetary
boundary framework, providing capacity for the planet to adjust to changes that
occur in other boundaries, such as
elevated levels of ocean acidification, and therefore the onslaught of plastic
pollution and other man-made chemicals.
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However if the biosphere becomes too
compromised through anthropogenic pressures, other boundaries can weaken as a
result.
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Despite the many uncertainties surrounding
biosphere integrity and the approaches to measuring it, experts agree that
biodiversity loss is happening now at unacceptable rates.
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