Geo-ecology in the Anthropocene

E. Nadal-Romero; E. Cammeraat

doi:10.18172/cig.3876

Autores/as

E. Nadal-Romero Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPE-CSIC)
E. Cammeraat Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Ecosystem and Landscape Dynamics Department, University of Amsterdam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18172/cig.3876

Palabras clave:

Antropoceno, impacto humano, biodiversidad, hidrología, erosión, cambios de usos de suelo

Resumen

Existen evidencias de la acción humana sobre la tierra en los últimos milenios, aunque este impacto se ha visto incrementado en las últimas décadas. El aceleramiento de estos cambios sugiere el inicio de una nueva época o edad geológica dominada por los humanos.

En los últimos años, gran parte del debate científico se ha centrado en la definición, búsqueda de señales estratigráficas y delimitación temporal del Antropoceno. Sin embargo, no hay consenso, y no existen evidencias geológicas reales del inicio de esta nueva época. En consecuencia, la definición oficial de Antropoceno es controvertida, y la Unión Internacional de Ciencias Geológicas (IUGS) no ha proporcionado una definición formal y oficial de una nueva época o edad geológica.

Independientemente de la definición formal y el acuerdo global sobre la existencia de una nueva época geológica (Antropoceno), lo que es evidente es que los seres humanos han alterado significativamente los patrones de vegetación y las cubiertas vegetales (actividades agrícolas y su posterior abandono, la conversión de bosques a pastizales para uso pastoral en el piso subalpino), la dinámica del agua y la distribución de agua dulce en el planeta (p.e. construcción de presas y embalses), los ciclos biogeoquímicos (como el ciclo del carbono), la formación de suelos y los procesos de erosión del suelo, creando y modificando nuevos paisajes (definidos como paisajes antrópicos).

Este volumen incluye 11 contribuciones sobre la definición de una nueva época geológica denominada Antropoceno y su delimitación en el tiempo. Además, se presentan algunos de los impactos humanos más importantes sobre la Tierra.

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