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Dorninger C, Menéndez LP, Caniglia G. Social-ecological niche construction for sustainability: understanding destructive processes and exploring regenerative potentials. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220431. [PMID: 37952625 PMCID: PMC10645119 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Through the exponential expansion of human activities, humanity has become the driving force of global environmental change. The consequent global sustainability crisis has been described as a result of a uniquely human form of adaptability and niche construction. In this paper, we introduce the concept of social-ecological niche construction focusing on biophysical interactions and outcomes. We use it to address destructive processes and to discuss potential regenerative ones as ways to overcome them. From a niche construction point of view, the increasing disconnections between human activities and environmental feedbacks appear as a success story in the history of human-nature coevolution because they enable humans to expand activities virtually without being limited by environmental constraints. However, it is still poorly understood how suppressed environmental feedbacks affect future generations and other species, or which lock-ins and self-destructive dynamics may unfold in the long-term. This is crucial as the observed escape from natural selection requires growing energy input and represents a temporal deferral rather than an actual liberation from material limitations. Relying on our proposal, we conclude that, instead of further taming nature, there is need to explore the potential of how to tame socio-metabolic growth and impact in niche construction processes. This article is part of the theme issue 'Evolution and sustainability: gathering the strands for an Anthropocene synthesis'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Dorninger
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Martinstraße 12, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
- Institute of Social Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Schottenfeldgasse 29, Vienna 1070, Austria
| | - Lumila Paula Menéndez
- Department of Anthropology of the Americas, University of Bonn, Oxfordstraße 15, 53111 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Guido Caniglia
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Martinstraße 12, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
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Vianna Franco MP, Molnár O, Dorninger C, Laciny A, Treven M, Weger J, Albuquerque EDME, Cazzolla Gatti R, Villanueva Hernandez LA, Jakab M, Marizzi C, Menéndez LP, Poliseli L, Rodríguez HB, Caniglia G. Diversity regained: Precautionary approaches to COVID-19 as a phenomenon of the total environment. Sci Total Environ 2022; 825:154029. [PMID: 35202694 PMCID: PMC8861146 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
As COVID-19 emerged as a phenomenon of the total environment, and despite the intertwined and complex relationships that make humanity an organic part of the Bio- and Geospheres, the majority of our responses to it have been corrective in character, with few or no consideration for unintended consequences which bring about further vulnerability to unanticipated global events. Tackling COVID-19 entails a systemic and precautionary approach to human-nature relations, which we frame as regaining diversity in the Geo-, Bio-, and Anthropospheres. Its implementation requires nothing short of an overhaul in the way we interact with and build knowledge from natural and social environments. Hence, we discuss the urgency of shifting from current to precautionary approaches to COVID-19 and look, through the lens of diversity, at the anticipated benefits in four systems crucially affecting and affected by the pandemic: health, land, knowledge and innovation. Our reflections offer a glimpse of the sort of changes needed, from pursuing planetary health and creating more harmonious forms of land use to providing a multi-level platform for other ways of knowing/understanding and turning innovation into a source of global public goods. These exemplary initiatives introduce and solidify systemic thinking in policymaking and move priorities from reaction-based strategies to precautionary frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco P Vianna Franco
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Martinstrasse 12, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
| | - Orsolya Molnár
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Martinstrasse 12, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria.
| | - Christian Dorninger
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Martinstrasse 12, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria; Institute of Social Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Schottenfeldgasse 29, Vienna 1070, Austria
| | - Alice Laciny
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Martinstrasse 12, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
| | - Marco Treven
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Martinstrasse 12, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
| | - Jacob Weger
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Martinstrasse 12, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
| | - Eduardo da Motta E Albuquerque
- Cedeplar, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627 - Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Roberto Cazzolla Gatti
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Zamboni, 33, 40126 Bologna, BO, Italy
| | | | - Manuel Jakab
- Department for Academic Communication, Sigmund Freud University, Freudpl. 1, Vienna 1020, Austria
| | - Christine Marizzi
- BioBus, 1361 Amsterdam Avenue, Ste 340, New York, NY, 10027, United States
| | - Lumila Paula Menéndez
- Department of Anthropology of the Americas, University of Bonn, Regina-Pacis-Weg 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany; Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Universitätsring 1, 1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - Luana Poliseli
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Martinstrasse 12, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
| | | | - Guido Caniglia
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Martinstrasse 12, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
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Cazzolla Gatti R, Menéndez LP, Laciny A, Bobadilla Rodríguez H, Bravo Morante G, Carmen E, Dorninger C, Fabris F, Grunstra NDS, Schnorr SL, Stuhlträger J, Villanueva Hernandez LA, Jakab M, Sarto-Jackson I, Caniglia G. Diversity lost: COVID-19 as a phenomenon of the total environment. Sci Total Environ 2021; 756:144014. [PMID: 33279199 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
If we want to learn how to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, we have to embrace the complexity of this global phenomenon and capture interdependencies across scales and contexts. Yet, we still lack systematic approaches that we can use to deal holistically with the pandemic and its effects. In this Discussion, we first introduce a framework that highlights the systemic nature of the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of the total environment as a self-regulating and evolving system comprising of three spheres, the Geosphere, the Biosphere, and the Anthroposphere. Then, we use this framework to explore and organize information from the rapidly growing number of scientific papers, preprints, preliminary scientific reports, and journalistic pieces that give insights into the pandemic crisis. With this work, we point out that the pandemic should be understood as the result of preconditions that led to depletion of human, biological, and geochemical diversity as well as of feedback that differentially impacted the three spheres. We contend that protecting and promoting diversity, is necessary to contribute to more effective decision-making processes and policy interventions to face the current and future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Cazzolla Gatti
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria; Biological Institute, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia.
| | - Lumila Paula Menéndez
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria; Department of Anthropology of the Americas, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alice Laciny
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria; Entomology Collection, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hernán Bobadilla Rodríguez
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria; Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Guillermo Bravo Morante
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria; Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Physical Anthropology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Esther Carmen
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria; Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, UK
| | - Christian Dorninger
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Flavia Fabris
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Nicole D S Grunstra
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria; Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Mammal Collection, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephanie L Schnorr
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria; Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Julia Stuhlträger
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria; Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Manuel Jakab
- Department for Academic Communication, Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Guido Caniglia
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria
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Rau AL, Burkhardt V, Dorninger C, Hjort C, Ibe K, Keßler L, Kristensen JA, McRobert A, Sidemo-Holm W, Zimmermann H, Abson DJ, von Wehrden H, Ekroos J. Temporal patterns in ecosystem services research: A review and three recommendations. Ambio 2020; 49:1377-1393. [PMID: 31776967 PMCID: PMC7239989 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01292-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Temporal aspects of ecosystem services have gained surprisingly little attention given that ecosystem service flows are not static but change over time. We present the first systematic review to describe and establish how studies have assessed temporal patterns in supply and demand of ecosystem services. 295 studies, 2% of all studies engaging with the ecosystem service concept, considered changes in ecosystem services over time. Changes were mainly characterised as monotonic and linear (81%), rather than non-linear or through system shocks. Further, a lack of focus of changing ecosystem service demand (rather than supply) hampers our understanding of the temporal patterns of ecosystem services provision and use. Future studies on changes in ecosystem services over time should (1) more explicitly study temporal patterns, (2) analyse trade-offs and synergies between services over time, and (3) integrate changes in supply and demand and involve and empower stakeholders in temporal ecosystem services research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Lena Rau
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Verena Burkhardt
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Christian Dorninger
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Cecilia Hjort
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Research, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden
- Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Lund University, Ekologihuset Sölvegatan 37, Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Ibe
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
- Faculty of Sustainability, Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Keßler
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Jeppe A. Kristensen
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Andrew McRobert
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - William Sidemo-Holm
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Research, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Heike Zimmermann
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - David J. Abson
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
- Faculty of Sustainability, Center for Sustainability Management, Leuphana University, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Henrik von Wehrden
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
- Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281 USA
| | - Johan Ekroos
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Research, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden
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Ives CD, Abson DJ, von Wehrden H, Dorninger C, Klaniecki K, Fischer J. Reconnecting with nature for sustainability. Sustain Sci 2018; 13:1389-1397. [PMID: 30220917 PMCID: PMC6132401 DOI: 10.1007/s11625-018-0542-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Calls for humanity to 'reconnect to nature' have grown increasingly louder from both scholars and civil society. Yet, there is relatively little coherence about what reconnecting to nature means, why it should happen and how it can be achieved. We present a conceptual framework to organise existing literature and direct future research on human-nature connections. Five types of connections to nature are identified: material, experiential, cognitive, emotional, and philosophical. These various types have been presented as causes, consequences, or treatments of social and environmental problems. From this conceptual base, we discuss how reconnecting people with nature can function as a treatment for the global environmental crisis. Adopting a social-ecological systems perspective, we draw upon the emerging concept of 'leverage points'-places in complex systems to intervene to generate change-and explore examples of how actions to reconnect people with nature can help transform society towards sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D. Ives
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - David J. Abson
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Henrik von Wehrden
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Christian Dorninger
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Kathleen Klaniecki
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Joern Fischer
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
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Schwitalla P, Mennerich A, Austermann-Haun U, Müller A, Dorninger C, Daims H, Holm NC, Rönner-Holm SGE. NH4+ ad-/desorption in sequencing batch reactors: simulation, laboratory and full-scale studies. Water Sci Technol 2008; 58:345-350. [PMID: 18701784 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2008.388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Significant NH4-N balance deficits were found during the measurement campaigns for the data collection for dynamic simulation studies at five full-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) waste water treatment plants (WWTPs), as well as during subsequent calibrations at the investigated plants. Subsequent lab scale investigations showed high evidence for dynamic, cycle-specific NH4+ ad-/desorption to the activated flocs as one reason for this balance deficit. This specific dynamic was investigated at five full-scale SBR plants for the search of the general causing mechanisms. The general mechanism found was a NH4+ desorption from the activated flocs at the end of the nitrification phase with subsequent nitrification and a chemical NH4+ adsorption at the flocs in the course of the filling phases. This NH4+ ad-/desorption corresponds to an antiparallel K+ ad/-desorption.One reasonable full-scale application was investigated at three SBR plants, a controlled filling phase at the beginning of the sedimentation phase. The results indicate that this kind of filling event must be specifically hydraulic controlled and optimised in order to prevent too high waste water break through into the clear water phase, which will subsequently be discarded.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Schwitalla
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Lippe und Hoexter, Emilienstr. 45, 32756, Detmold, Germany
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