Abstract
The previous chapters have outlined the plethora of processes that participate in structuring the functioning of marine populations, communities, and ecosystems, have described the interactions at local and larger spatial scales, and throughout, have highlighted the biogeochemical, climatic, and ecological controls that influence the interactions among these various elements, units, and assemblages of components. Not infrequently, we have been concerned with the anthropogenic influences in these complex dynamics.
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With a range of sea level rise of 0.5–2 m, the area likely to be flooded only amounts to perhaps 0.6–1.2 % of the land area of the world [Nicholls et al. (2010)]. The number of sea level-displaced refugees, however, might reach 72–187 million people through this century, about 1–2 % of the world’s population.
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For example, Levermann et al. (2013) argued that greenhouse gases emitted now will affect sea level for centuries. Increases of 1 ℃ in mean temperature may be responsible for 2 m rise in sea level across several centuries.
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An example of such external baseline changes may be recent results from Narragansett Bay, where it has been speculated that climate-driven changes decreased phytoplankton responses to nutrient loads, and may have decreased rates of denitrification (Nixon et al. 2009, Fulweiler et al. 2007).
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Histeresis is the term used to describe differences in trajectories followed by a dependent variable in its initial response to a governing variable, and the trajectory of recovery from that governing variable. Histeresis may occur from internal differences generated by the contrasts in original and recovery conditions. In addition, external conditions, as noted by Duarte et al. (2009) may add another set of differences, leading to a shifted context in which hysteresis takes place. Both hysteresis and shifted baselines add to the differing trajectories across time.
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© 2015 Springer-Verlag New York
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Valiela, I. (2015). Changing Marine Ecosystems and Processes: Trajectories and Recovery. In: Marine Ecological Processes. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79070-1_18
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79070-1_18
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