Anthropogenic Biomes A 21 st century framework for ecology & the earth sciences Erle C. Ellis Navin Ramankutty Department of Geography & Environmental Systems University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD Department of Geography & Earth System Science Program McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2K6, Canada

Humans now shape ecological pattern and process across most of the terrestrial biosphere. “Nature” is embedded within human systems. Ecology needs to move beyond human footprints, impacts & domination.

Anthropogenic Biomes Why care about Biomes? Why do we need Anthropogenic Biomes? –A missing persons detective story How to identify & map the biomes –An empirical approach Anthropogenic Biomes of the World The way forward…. –A new model for ecological research & education Overview

On Biomes… Biomes describe global patterns of species composition and ecological processes –Basic units in the ecological hierarchy… Identified as a function of Climate, moderated by Altitude (conventionally) Basic units for global ecosystem models –IGBP (17 classes; I nternational G eosphere- B iosphere P rogramme ) Core units in ecoregion analysis of biodiversity –Olson “global 200” (16 biomes, 200 ecoregions)

Why Anthropogenic Biomes? Humans control biodiversity & ecosystem processes as much as climate. Global biome maps are not realistic. –Much of biome area does not even exist (potential vegetation). –At most includes urban & agriculture (& agriculture+tree mosaic). Conventional, climate-based biomes are not static anyway: –Anthropogenic climate change is altering biome location & composition. Biomes derived from global patterns of human interaction with landscapes may be a stronger model of global ecological patterns & processes. Grazing Agriculture Urbanization Deforestation Habitat Fragmentation etc…

Conventional Biomes ecosystem processes are a function of macroclimate (latitude, altitude, circulation) Ecosystem processes = f (C) C = Climate (precipitation & temperature)

A Working Hypothesis: ecosystem processes in anthropogenic biomes are primarily a function of human populations and their ecosystem interactions (land use) Ecosystem processes = f (P,T) (in anthropogenic biomes) P = Population density T = Land use (how land & resources are used) Anthropogenic Biomes

Anthropogenic Biomes of the World *Mosaic: >25% tree cover mixed with > 25% pasture and/or cropland * Ellis & Ramankutty, in press

Wildlands Peruvian Amazon, Peru Credit: © Wendee Holtcamp.

Croplands Atlas Mountains, Morocco Wildlands Alaska, USA

Populated Forest Koh Samai, Thailand Credit: © Yenit Company Ltd.

Croplands Atlas Mountains, Morocco Remote Rangelands South Dakota, USA Credit: © Alexander Smart.

Populated Rangelands Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Remote Croplands Colombia Basin, Washington, USA Credit: © GWMA

Croplands - Residential Rainfed Mosaic Normandy, France Credit: © JH.Bernard.

Anthropogenic Biomes of the World Ellis & Ramankutty, in press Village Biomes

Villages Jintang County, Sichuan Province, China

Rice Villages Danyang County, Jiangsu Province, China

Urban Manhattan, New York, USA Credit: © Wendee Holtcamp. <

Urban Baltimore County, Maryland, USA

Anthropogenic Biomes of the World *Mosaic: >25% tree cover mixed with > 25% pasture and/or cropland * Ellis & Ramankutty, in press

Anthropogenic biomes A new framework for ecology Only 22% of land and 11% of NPP are wild Nature is now embedded within human systems –It is no longer possible to conserve nature by avoiding human interactions Human interactions with the biosphere go far beyond a single dimension of impact or domination. Beyond the “urban + agriculture + wild” model –Forests, rangelands & croplands include people! –A wide range of population interactions.

Anthropogenic Biomes: Conceptual Model Wildlands Urban & dense ForestedRangelandsVillagesCroplands Ellis & Ramankutty, in press

Anthropogenic Biomes Results Anthropogenic Biomes are Mosaics –Anthropogenic landscapes are heterogeneous mixtures of different land use and land cover classes. –Urban areas are embedded in agricultural areas. –Trees mixed with croplands and housing. –Managed vegetation is mixed with semi-natural vegetation (e.g. croplands in rangelands and forests). –Hillslopes & mountains are often islands of semi-natural vegetation

Villages Pohkara, Nepal

A better story… “Human systems, with natural ecosystems embedded within them”. We own the biosphere: we have altered it irreversibly. Now we control its future. The old biosphere story… “Natural ecosystems with humans disturbing them”. Anthropogenic biomes A new framework for education