Bioresilience

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Comparing the Features of Bioresilience and Biodiversity as Found on a Mountain Slope

Bioresilience refers to the ability of a whole species or an individual of a species to adapt to change. Initially the term applied to changes in the natural environment, but increasingly it is also used for adaptation to anthropogenically induced change.[1]

History

life forms with increasing altitude and the accompanying decreasing prevalence in numbers, and he documented this in the 18th century on the slopes of the volcano Chimborazo.[2][3]

Understanding of bioresilience evolved from research led by

temperate to alpine to Arctic-like. These fewer species, though, had greater biologic robustness correlating directly with increasing bioresilience.[5]

Current research

Monitoring of bioresilience, beginning in the

Everest ecosystem but expanding to other mountain ecologies globally is being carried out by the Biomeridian Project at Future Generations University.[6]

The concept of bioresilience has also been applied to human health to explain aging or chronic diseases decrease the ability of the body to adapt; in such cases, the system becomes rigid and unable to cross different life demands. As the human body loses robustness with age, an individual becomes unable to accommodate new life demands, be they contagions, stress, or events such as injury or even jet lag.[7]

The importance of resilience in biological systems has been widely recognized in terms of the impacts on life by anthropogenic changes.[1] Accelerating environmental change and continuing loss of genetic resources positions lower biodiversity around the planet threatening ecosystem services. A major mitigating factor will be life forms with higher resilience.[8]

Paralleling the work in mountain environments, a growing number of studies is applying the concept of bioresilience to assess the robustness of life in other ecological systems challenged by the Anthropocene. One such study was with the adaptive renewal and natural perturbation in Lake Victoria, the world's second largest freshwater lake.[9]

References

  1. ^
    PMID 25061199
    .
  2. ^ Wulf, Andrea (2015). The Invention of Nature. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
  3. S2CID 206518912
    .
  4. ^ Shrestha, T.B (1989). Development Ecology of the Arun River Basin in Nepal. Kathmandu: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.
  5. ^ Taylor-Ide, Daniel (1995). Something Hidden Behind the Ranges: A Himalayan Quest. San Francisco: Mercury House.
  6. ^ "Understanding Impacts on Life from Climate Change". Future Generations University. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  7. ^ Yun, Joon (June 18, 2018). "The Key To Health In Old Age: Bioresilience". Forbes. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  8. PMID 26437633
    .
  9. doi:10.5751/ES-03877-160109
    .
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